Essential oils from medicine and food homology species: a review of constituents, extraction, bioactivities and encapsulation

Essential oils (EOs) derived from Medicine and Food Homology (MFH) have attracted increasing interest in pharmaceutical development due to their edible and therapeutic nature. This review surveys the chemical composition, extraction technologies, pharmacological activities, and encapsulation strategies of MFH-EOs, as well as current safety evaluation. Future research directions including mechanistic elucidation, novel carrier development, green extraction technologies, and regulatory harmonization are proposed, which could provide a comprehensive theoretical foundation for mechanistic investigation and industrial translation of MFH-EOs.