Essential Oils from Horticultural Crops: Phytochemistry, Bioactivity, and Innovative Applications

The study of essential oils (EOs) from horticultural crops is a rapidly evolving field at the interface of plant science, phytochemistry, and technological applications. EOs are complex mixtures of volatile secondary metabolites, mainly obtained through distillation or mechanical processes (for citrus) from fruits, flowers, leaves, and other plant tissues. They exhibit diverse bioactivities, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and therapeutic effects. Advances in analytical, chemometric, and omics-based techniques have revealed the complexity and diversity of EO phytocomplexes, highlighting the influence of ecological, genetic, agronomic, and pedoclimatic factors on composition. Extraction and distillation methods further shape chemical profiles and bioactivity, emphasizing the need for optimized and standardized cultivation and processing. Despite progress, gaps remain in comprehensive characterization, biosynthetic understanding, and quality control. This Special Issue invites research on the phytochemical diversity, bioactivities, and innovative applications of EOs, fostering their potential in food, pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, and industrial sectors.This Research Topic aims to consolidate and advance current understanding of the phytochemistry, biological activities, and innovative applications of essential oils (EOs) from horticultural crops. It seeks to provide new insights into the diversity, biosynthesis, and chemical complexity of EOs, as well as the ecological, genetic, agronomic, and pedoclimatic factors that shape their composition. Contributions are encouraged that elucidate the mechanisms underlying EO bioactivities, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and therapeutic effects, and explore their translation into practical applications in health, agriculture, food preservation, cosmetics, and industrial sectors. Emphasis is placed on research addressing food-grade quality, safety, and potential toxicity, alongside sustainable production, standardization, and multifunctionality. By fostering interdisciplinary approaches, this collection highlights strategies for optimized extraction, processing, and valorization, integrating phytochemical knowledge, bioactivity assessment, and technological innovation to unlock the full potential of horticultural essential oils.This Research Topic focuses on original research and critical reviews on the phytochemistry, biological activities, and innovative applications of essential oils (EOs) from horticultural crops, excluding non-horticultural sources and synthetic analogues. We welcome contributions addressing, but not limited to:- Phytochemical diversity, Biosynthesis, and Chemical Complexity; - Influence of Genetic, Environmental, Agronomic, and Pedoclimatic factors on EO yield, composition, and quality;- Impact of extraction and distillation methods on chemical profiles, bioactivity, and food-grade quality;- Analytical and Chemometric approaches for profiling, standardization, authentication, and safety assessment;- Molecular mechanisms of bioactivity;- Innovative applications in health, food preservation, agriculture, cosmetics, and industry.Submissions should present novel insights or critical syntheses, emphasizing methodological rigor, interdisciplinary perspectives, sustainability, safety, and strategies for optimized extraction, processing, and valorization of horticultural EOs. Accepted article types include Original Research, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Methods, Perspectives, and Case Reports. Topic editors: Roberta Tardugno, Matteo Radice, Eleonora Di Salvo Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76922/essential-oils-from-horticultural-crops-phytochemistry-bioactivity-and-innovative-applications