Essential oils

The Laboratory of chemistry of Natural Molecules has specialized for more than 25 years in the study of essential oils.

This research includes optimizing extraction and complete chemical characterization by GC-MS, with a view to industrial-scale production and valorization. New essential oils are characterized each year from original plant species, and their biological properties are studied.

The applications of essential oils are increasingly numerous, particularly in agronomy for the protection of stored foodstuffs, crop protection and the formulation of new bio-herbicides, the mechanisms of action of which are deciphered thanks to multi-disciplinary research. Slow, controlled release is studied through innovative encapsulations.

The laboratory's expertise in the field of essential oils is disseminated within a European knowledge network.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are odoriferous or non-odoriferous compounds specific to an organism, a product or a biotope.

The laboratory has acquired proven experience in the identification and quantification of these molecules, as well as in the development of techniques for capturing low concentrations of volatile organic compounds in a variety of environments, contributing to the creation of the term Volatolomics.

Projects

• Essential oils injected in tree sap
• Essential oils and knowledge networks
• Essential oils: innovative encapsulations for a slow release
• New essential oils’ characterisation and valorisation
• Essential oils as bio-herbicides: mechanisms of action
• VOCs as stress markers in plants
• VOCs and their applications in agronomy
• VOCs as mycotoxins contamination markers to develop new highly specific captors
• Essential oils to fight potato late blight
• Study of the penetration and mobility of essential oils applied to weeds 
• Use of local plants from Congo to protect stored foodstuffs against post-harvest pests and diseases
• Use of locally-produced essential oils to protect stored foodstuffs in Senegal against post-harvest pests and diseases
• The role of volatile organic compounds in the debarking choices of African elephants
• Use of essential oils to replace antibiotics in broiler farms 
• Study of volatile organic compounds emitted by mycotoxin-producing and non-mycotoxin-producing strains