Zebrafish models for the evaluation of essential oils (EOs): A comprehensive review

Abstract

Essential oils (EOs) derived from crops, especially aromatic plants, have been well-acknowledged to provide several health benefits for humans. Zebrafish as an unprecedented tool has been widely used as an excellent vertebrate model in labs owing to its many useful characteristics. Its applications for rapidly and economically screening and identifying toxicity, safety, and bioactivity of EOs may serve to meet the rising demand for nutraceuticals, food supplements, and natural cosmetics. In this study, we summarized the research progress of zebrafish models in evaluating EOs. In addition, toxicity, safety, and various bioactivities of EOs were summarized using a wide variety of readily applicable zebrafish models covering antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, angiogenesis inhibition, neuromodulation, anesthesia, anti-melanogenesis, analgesic activities, etc. In conclusion, zebrafish is a valuable animal model for evaluating the bioactivity and safety of EOs, and using such a model may contribute to speeding up the identification of novel EOs with potential health functions and quality assessment, which in turn boosts the recognition of aromatic plants as important industrial crops and encourages a healthier way of life.