Clinical Potential of Essential Oils: Cytotoxicity, Selectivity Index, and Efficacy for Combating Gram-Positive ESKAPE Pathogens.

ABSTRACT: (1) Background: Essential oils (EOs) have emerged as promising antibacterial agents due to their broad-spectrum activity and low risk of resistance development. Therefore, this review aimed to assess the effectiveness of EOs against Gram-positive ESKAPE pathogens, and to evaluate their safety and toxicity in mammalian cells. (2) Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. (3) Results: Heracleum pyrenaicum exhibited the most potent effect, with a MIC of 0.02-0.04 µg/mL and a selectivity index ranging from 251.3 to 2006.5, indicating high selective toxicity toward bacterial cells over mammalian cells. In contrast, certain species such as Cannabis sp. and Citrus sp. had selectivity indices of <1, indicating toxicity to mammalian ce

SUBMITTER: Belete BB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12525805 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature