Chemistry and Multibeneficial Bioactivities of Carvacrol (4-Isopropyl-2-methylphenol), a Component of Essential Oils Produced by Aromatic Plants and Spices

Abstract

Aromatic plants produce organic compounds that may be involved in the defense of plants against phytopathogenic insects, bacteria, fungi, and viruses. One of these compounds, called carvacrol, which is found in high concentrations in essential oils such as oregano, has been reported to exhibit numerous bioactivities in cells and animals. This integrated overview surveys and interprets our present knowledge of the chemistry and analysis of carvacrol and its beneficial bioactivities. These activities include its antioxidative properties in food (e.g., lard, sunflower oil) and in vivo and the inhibition of foodborne and human antibiotic-susceptible and antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria, viruses, pathogenic fungi and parasites, and insects in vitro and in human foods (e.g., apple juice, eggs, leafy greens, meat and poultry products, milk, oysters) and food animal feeds and wastes. Also covered are inhibitions of microbial and fungal toxin production and the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiarthritic, antiallergic, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective properties of carvacrol as well as metabolic, synergistic, and mechanistic aspects. Areas for future research are also suggested. The collated information and suggested research might contribute to a better understanding of agronomical, biosynthetic, chemical, physiological, and cellular mechanisms of the described health-promoting effects of carvacrol, and facilitate and guide further studies needed to optimize the use of carvacrol as a multifunctional food in pure and encapsulated forms, in edible antimicrobial films, and in combination with plant-derived and medical antibiotics to help prevent or treat animal and human diseases.

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria: Prevalence in Food and Inactivation by Food-Compatible Compounds and Plant Extracts

“…For example, carvacrol has analgesic, antiarthritic, antiallergic, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective properties as well. 11 It would therefore be of interest to investigate any additional medicinal properties of the other food-compatible compounds and extracts described here. We are challenged to help solve these problems associated with microbial food safety and human health.…”

Kazakh Ziziphora Species as Sources of Bioactive Substances

“…Antifungal [187,350,352], antimicrobial activity [306] Antiviral activity against influenza A⁄PR⁄8 virus subtype H1N1 [231] Enhancement of GABA modulation [353] Anticancer (melanoma cells) [343] Insecticidal (against L. serricorne) [351] Inhibition of the acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin-induced nociception in mice [354] Analgesic activity reviewed [199] Review on metabolism and toxicity [200] OH 1,8-Cineol (72) Z. clinopodioides (5.4%-21.6%) [185] Antimicrobial activity (MDR resistant bacteria) [355] Hypocholesterolemic (through inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase and conversion of squalene to lanosterol [319] Analgesic activity reviewed [199] Review on some effects on cardiovascular system [221] Review on metabolism and toxicity [200] O [273,297,299] Anti-inflammatory (inhibition of NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW-264.7 macrophages) [223]; anti-inflammatory effect by reducing the production of IL-1β and prostanoids, possibly through the induction of IL-10 release [364] Anti-genotoxic [287] Anxiolytic, GABA A receptor modulation [322,365] Bronchodilatory effect in guinea pigs [366] Antinociceptive activity in mice in the acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction, formalin and hot-plate tests [367] Acetyl-and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity [269,368] Analgesic activity reviewed [199] Review on anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunological effects [292] Review on some effects on cardiovascular system [221] General reviews on 73 [369,370] [184...…”

“…Carvacrol (73) and thymol (62) are placed in the first place, as their antibacterial and antiseptic effect is well known [429]. Their synergic action has been described previously and is well reviewed [369]. Carvacrol (73) acts on B. cereus via depletion of intracellular ATP pool, changes the membrane potential and increase the permeability of membrane for protons and potassium.…”

“…There are evidences of other mechanisms of antibacterial effect, such as interaction with DNA. Moreover, application of carvacrol (73) has been found to inhibit the formation of bacterial biofilm, which is one of the mechanisms of bacterial resistance [369].…”

Synthesis, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Carvacrol Based Sulfonates

“…Carvacrol, 5-isopropyl-3-methylphenol (Figure 1 (1)) is a major constituent of organo oil [12][13][14][15]. It is a phenolic monoterpenoid that exhibits several interesting biological activities [16][17][18]. It has antiinflammatory [19], antibiotic [20], antifungal [21], antioxidant [22], antiviral [23], insecticidal [24], cardioprotective [25] and antidiabetics [26] properties.…”