Essential oils, known as volatile oils, are valuable odoriferous substances from plants. The popularity of essential oils has significantly increased due to numerous therapeutic properties, including antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antidyslipidemic, and antiplatelet activities. A total of 42 essential oils were detected involved in the aorta contraction-relaxation mechanisms ex vivo.
The majority of these essential oils exhibit smooth muscle relaxant effects via multiple signaling pathways. Therefore, the plant-derived essential oils may be considered a potential agent for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the essential oils with vasoactive effects on the aorta function and the underlying signaling pathways involved.