title: The bioactivity and toxicological actions of carvacrol.
abstract: Carvacrol is a monoterpenic phenol produced by an abundant number of aromatic plants, including thyme and oregano. Presently, carvacrol is used in low concentrations as a food flavoring ingredient and preservative, as well as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetic formulations. In recent years, considerable research has been undertaken in an effort to establish the biological actions of carvacrol for its potential use in clinical applications. Results from in vitro and in vivo studies show that carvacrol possess a variety of biological and pharmacological properties including antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, spasmolytic, and vasorelaxant. The focus of this review is to evaluate the existing knowledge regarding the biological, pharmacological, and toxicological effects of carvacrol.
authors.affiliation: a Northern Ontario School of Medicine , Lakehead University , Thunder Bay , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Zacharias E
authors.initials: ZE
authors.lastname: Suntres
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coccimiglio
authors.forename: Misagh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alipour
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D000081007:Cymenes; D006801:Humans; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D000081007:Cymenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; C073316:carvacrol
keywords: herbs; oregano; thyme; toxicity