Please see the article by Desbois AP, Smith VJ. Antibacterial free fatty acids: activities, mechanisms of action and biotechnological potential. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2010;85:1629-42. It is a great review with some insight on the mechanisms that may have application to your stludies of the mechanism of action of essential oils. Good luck!

In addition, there are 3 chapters on the bioactivity, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal activities of essential oils in: Thormar H, Editor. Lipids and essential oils as antimicrobial agents. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.; 2011. Monoterpenes and phenolic compounds are included.

Thanks dr for your contribution but both review and book are not available.

Hi Amal,

In general, the interaction between terpenes/phenolic compounds and bacterial cell wall is mainly a diruption of the cell membrane provoking cell compound leakage, perturbation of proton motive pumps, dissolution or coagulation of cell compounds, membrane and transmembrane protein blocage etc. Mecanisms are different depending on the involved compound, and generally, phenolic compounds are the most powerfull.

Hope it helps

Amine

Please see the chapter that is free by Faleiro 2011 The mode of antibacterial action of essential oils. In Science against microbial pathogens: communicating current research and technological advances.

The main points were addressed in the Amine answer.

May be the attached paper will be useful to you.