It is a type of organic compound generated by vegetables to protect against bacteria, fungi and predators. As there are phytocides that are volatile they are used in aromatherapy and are the basis of the so-called forest bath. The name was coined by Russian biochemist Boris P. Tokin in the first half of the twentieth century with Greek 966; 965; 964; 959; 957; ( "plant" ) and the Latin suffix -cida ( "killing" ).