Susceptibility of herpes simplex virus type 1 to monoterpenes thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene and essential oils of Sinapis arvensis L., Lallemantia royleana Benth. and Pulicaria vulgaris Gaertn

441

261

Carvacrol (CV) is a phenolic monoterpenoid found in essential oils of oregano (Origanum vulgare), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), pepperwort (Lepidium flavum), wild bergamot (Citrus aurantium bergamia), and other plants. Carvacrol possesses a wide range of bioactivities putatively useful for clinical applications such antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. Carvacrol antimicrobial activity is higher than that of other volatile compounds present in essential oils due to the presence of the free hydroxyl group, hydrophobicity, and the phenol moiety. The present review illustrates the state-of-the-art studies on the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties of CV. It is particularly effective against food-borne pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Bacillus cereus. Carvacrol has high antioxidant activity and has been successfully used, mainly associated with thymol, as dietary phytoadditive to improve animal antioxidant status. The anticancer properties of CV have been reported in preclinical models of breast, liver, and lung carcinomas, acting on proapoptotic processes. Besides the interesting properties of CV and the toxicological profile becoming definite, to date, human trials on CV are still lacking, and this largely impedes any conclusions of clinical relevance.

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carvacrol and human health: A comprehensive review

Sharifi‐Rad

Varoni

Iriti

et al. 2018

441

261

“…A recent report by the World Health Organization indicates that there is a lack of new antibiotics under development to combat the antimicrobial resistance, including tuberculosis. What is more, most of the new drugs are only short‐term solutions because they are modifications of existing antibiotics (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/running-out-antibiotics/en/; Sharifi‐Rad, Salehi, Stojanović‐Radić, et al, ). For these reasons, as in the past, looking for medicaments of herbal origin that assure more efficiency with less damaging effects than synthetic ones is the objective to which numerous researchers are addressing their efforts (Sharifi‐Rad, ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thymol, thyme, and other plant sources: Health and potential uses

Salehi

Mishra

Shukla

et al. 2018

397

243

Thymol is a naturally occurring phenol monoterpene derivative of cymene and isomer of carvacrol. Thymol (10-64%) is one of the major constituent of essential oils of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L., Lamiaceae), a medicinal plant with several therapeutic properties. This plant, native to Mediterranean regions, is commonly used as a culinary herb and also with a long history of use for different medicinal purposes. Nowadays, thymol and thyme present a wide range of functional possibilities in pharmacy, food, and cosmetic industry. The interest in the formulation of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals based on thymol is due to several studies that have evaluated the potential therapeutic uses of this compound for the treatment of disorders affecting the respiratory, nervous, and cardiovascular systems. Moreover, this compound also exhibits antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticarcinogenesis, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic activities, as well as a potential as a growth enhancer and immunomodulator. In the present review, these bioactivities have been covered because some of them can contribute to explain the ethnopharmacology of thymol and its main source, T. vulgaris. Other important aspects about thymol are discussed: its toxicity and bioavailability, metabolism, and distribution in animals and humans.

“…Regarding the volatile compounds, essential oils (EOs) are considered as potential medicinal agents (Salehi et al, ; J. Sharifi‐Rad, Sureda, et al, ; M. Sharifi‐Rad, Varoni, et al, ; M. Sharifi‐Rad et al, ; Yu et al, ). The EOs from Echinacea plants can be obtained from different parts of the plants, such as roots, leaves, flowers, and aerial parts, and with different yields (Mazza & Cottrell, ).…”

Section: Chemical Composition Of Essential Oils Obtained From Echinacmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Preservatives can be defined as "substances which prolong the shelf life of foodstuffs by protecting them against deterioration caused by microorganisms" (Ohlsson & Bengtsson, 2002). The interest toward safer, more effective, and economical sources of natural antioxidants and preservatives is increasing (Salehi et al, 2018;J. Sharifi-Rad, Salehi, Schnitzler, et al, 2017).…”

Section: The Genus Echinacea Plants As Antioxidants and Food Presermentioning

confidence: 99%

Echinacea plants as antioxidant and antibacterial agents: From traditional medicine to biotechnological applications

Sharifi‐Rad

Mnayer

Morais-Braga

et al. 2018

136

The genus Echinacea consists of 11 taxa of herbaceous and perennial flowering plants. In particular, Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench is widely cultivated all over the United States, Canada, and in Europe, exclusively in Germany, for its beauty and reported medicinal properties. Echinacea extracts have been used traditionally as wound healing to improve the immune system and to treat respiratory symptoms caused by bacterial infections. Echinacea extracts have demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, and to be safe. This survey aims at reviewing the medicinal properties of Echinacea species, their cultivation, chemical composition, and the potential uses of these plants as antioxidant and antibacterial agents in foods and in a clinical context. Moreover, the factors affecting the chemical composition of Echinacea spp. are also covered.