<![CDATA[Oral diseases remain a major health concern, while the complexity of microbial communities and the limitations of conventional and antimicrobial agents have encouraged the exploration of natural sources as alternatives. The Lamiaceae family represents an important source of bioactive plants and essential oils (EOs), but variations in chemical composition and analytical approaches can affect the interpretation of their biological activities. This review aims to summarize the antimicrobial activity of Lamiaceae plants against oral pathogens, examine the use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and retention index (RI) for the characterization of volatile compounds, and assess Pogostemon cablin as a potential source of bioactive EO. Open-access literature published between 2021 and 2026 was searched through PubMed and ScienceDirect using combinations of keywords related to Lamiaceae, oral pathogens, and retention index. Selected studies were grouped according to biological activity and chemical characterization, then analyzed narratively. Lamiaceae plants have demonstrated antibacterial, antifungal, and antibiofilm activities against cariogenic bacteria, periodontopathogens, and oral fungi, with responses varying according to plant species, preparation method, chemical composition, target microorganism, and assay parameters. GC-MS combined with RI provides complementary information for identifying volatile compounds and comparing species. P. cablin is characterized by a-sesquiterpene-rich chemical profile, particularly patchoulol, which has demonstrated antimicrobial activity against certain oral pathogens. However, direct evidence linking the chemical composition of P. cablin EO to its activity against oral pathogens remains limited. Further studies integrating standardized GC-MS/RI based chemical profiling with targeted biological assays are needed to clarify this relationship and evaluate the potential of P. cablin EO for oral antimicrobial applications.]]>
