Essential Oils: Biological Activity Beyond Aromatherapy

The essential oils are fragrant products whose complex compositions are obtained from various parts of plants by dry or steam distillation. Plants with variable biological activities have been explored worldwide. The presence of a large number of phenols, terpenes and other aromatic compounds make essential oils more precise in their mode of action. Because of this, they are known to possess many biological activities like antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory etc. In this article, we will review the published literature summarizing the chemistry of essential oils and their important biological activities.

sporadic case of ichthyosis hystrix: a rare entity

The term ichthyosis hystrix encompasses several rare ichthyosis form disorders characterized by massive hyperkeratosis with an appearance like spiny scales. This is a rare form of ichthyosis with autosomal dominant inheritance and a very few cases have been reported. We report a case of ichthyosis hystrix in a 22-year-old male patient with hyperkeratotic, dry, warty, scaly excrescences on most of the body surface in a linear pattern. Palms, soles and nails were spared and family history was negative. The case is being reported in view of the rarity of disease and its sporadic occurrence