Recent advances in cold plasma treatment for essential oil extraction

The substitution of imported supplements and flavorings with domestic products is the key to food security in Russia and Belarus. Essential oils are used in a variety of sectors, including medicine, cosmetics, perfumery, food, and confectionery. The depth and rate of their extraction determine the efficiency of the essential oil industry. Cold plasma treatment increases the rate of extraction by 15–20%. The use of this treatment can make Russian producers more competitive in the domestic market, as well as give them a competitive advantage internationally by ensuring high quality. This review examines the use of cold plasma treatment in preparation for essential oil extraction, briefly describing its mechanism of action, as well as process and equipment. The scientific papers published between 2010 and 2025 were subjected to retrospective analysis. Essential oil materials were classified and their essential oil receptacles were examined structurally to determine the type of cold plasma treatment to be used. We analyzed the surface and penetrating cold plasma effects on the morphology and microstructure of material tissues. Cold plasma generation methods were classified and their applications were presented for materials with external and internal essential oil receptacles. We described factors that affect the efficiency of essential oil extraction. Finally, potential applications were outlined for cold plasma technology in essential oil extraction and production of high-quality target products. This review demonstrates the critical importance of developing innovative electrophysical technologies for the food and essential oil industries. Cold plasma treatment of freshly harvested essential oil materials is a promising approach to ensure high extraction efficiency and high quality of the resulting products.