review · Plants
Essential oils sourced from aromatic plants offer promising natural alternatives to synthetic herbicides for weed control. This systematic review analyses literature published between 1972 and 2020 to establish relationships between the chemical constituents of essential oils and their phytotoxic activity. Chemometric analysis reveals that oxygenated terpenes, specifically monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, are primarily responsible for these weed-suppressing effects. Among the monoterpenes examined, pinene, 1,8-cineole, linalool, and carvacrol demonstrate the highest effectiveness across diverse plant species. Effective sesquiterpenes include caryophyllene and derivatives such as germacrene, spathulenol, and hexahydrofarnesyl acetone. Non-terpene compounds, including iridoids, also show notable allelopathic activity. Advancing these natural options toward practical adoption requires subsequent research into pure compounds, field-level testing, mode-of-action determination, and safety evaluations.
Synthetic herbicides can lead to environmental harm and weed resistance, creating demand for benign, naturally derived alternatives. By pinpointing the specific chemical compounds responsible for weed suppression in plant oils, this research clarifies which natural mixtures are most potent. This knowledge guides the design of targeted, plant-based bioherbicides to support more sustainable crop management and agricultural practices.
The findings could guide agrochemical formulators and biopesticide manufacturers seeking to develop natural bioherbicides for crop protection. Because this work is based on retrospective literature and chemometric modelling, the technology is at an early research stage. Real-world commercial products will require substantial further investment, notably in validating individual active compounds in pure forms, conducting field trials, determining environmental safety, and defining specific modes of action.
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Herbicides are natural or synthetic chemicals used to control unwanted plants (weeds). To avoid the harmful effects of synthetic herbicides, considerable effort has been devoted to finding alternative products derived from natural sources. Essential oils (EOs) from aromatic plants are auspicious source of bioherbicides. This review discusses phytotoxic EOs and their chemical compositions as reported from 1972 to 2020. Using chemometric analysis, we attempt to build a structure-activity relationship between phytotoxicity and EO chemical composition. Data analysis reveals that oxygenated terpenes, and mono- and sesquiterpenes, in particular, play principal roles in the phytotoxicity of EOs. Pinene, 1,8 cineole, linalool, and carvacrol are the most effective monoterpenes, with significant phytotoxicity evident in the EOs of many plants. Caryophyllene and its derivatives, including germacrene, spathulenol, and hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, are the most effective sesquiterpenes. EOs rich in iridoids (non-terpene compounds) also exhibit allelopathic activity. Further studies are recommended to evaluate the phytotoxic activity of these compounds in pure forms, determine their activity in the field, evaluate their safety, and assess their modes of action.
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DOI: 10.3390/plants10010036
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