The given data of the literature on the antimicrobial activity of the essential oils are treated from the experimental point of view, and they consider a possible clinical application of the oils. The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors that can influence on antimicrobial activity of essential oils, in vitro, based on preview data from literature. We noticed that the tests and evaluations of the antimicrobial activity of the essential oils can be hindered by the volatility of the oil, its insolubility in water and its chemistry complexity. These details make the results obtained on literature difficult to compare. The used methods differ broadly and important factors that influence the results are frequently neglectful. After a bibliographical rising, we concluded that a large attention should be given to some factors when we work with essential oils: the used technique, the growth medium, the inoculums density, the tested essential oil and the used emulsifying. It’s necessary to define and follow a right and standard methodology to make antimicrobial activity testes of essential oils.
Essential oil; antimicrobial activity; methods