Update on Monoterpenes as Antimicrobial Agents: A Particular Focus on p-Cymene

Abstract

p-Cymene [1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-benzene] is a monoterpene found in over 100 plant species used for medicine and food purposes. It shows a range of biological activity including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, anxiolytic, anticancer and antimicrobial effects. This last property has been widely investigated due to the urgent need for new substances with antimicrobial properties, to be used to treat communicable diseases whose diffusion in developed countries has been facilitated by globalization and the evolution of antimicrobial resistance. This review summarizes available scientific data, as reported by the most recent studies describing the antimicrobial activity of p-cymene either alone, or as the main component of plant extracts, as well as addressing the mechanisms of action of cymenes as antimicrobial agents. While p-cymene is one of the major constituents of extracts and essential oils used in traditional medicines as antimicrobial agents, but considering the limited data on its in vivo efficacy and safety, further studies are required to reach a definitive recommendation on the use and beneficial effects of p-cymene in human healthcare and in biomedical applications as a promising candidate to functionalize biomaterials and nanomaterials.

Antifungal Activity of Monoterpenes against Botryosphaeria dothidea

“…In the present study, monoterpenes, such as alcohols, phenols, ketones, acetates and aldehydes, showed potential as natural fungicidal agents [14,16]. This study appraised the biological activities of 20 monoterpenes (alcohols, acetates, and aldehydes) against B. dothidea.…”

Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils against Staphylococcus and Malassezia Strains Isolated from Canine Dermatitis

“…Our study confirmed thymol and carvacrol as main constituents of the EOs with the best antibacterial activity: 40.5% of thymol in T. vulgaris and 38.2% and 66.5% of carvacrol in S. montana and O. vulgare, respectively. Moreover, T. vulgaris and S. montana EOs had the highest amount of p-cymene (19.4% and 14.8%, respectively), a monoterpene compound with antimicrobial properties [39].…”

Star anise (Illicium verum): Chemical compounds, antiviral properties, and clinical relevance

“…( Andrade & de Sousa, 2013;Chouksey et al, 2010;de Sousa, Mesquita, de Araújo Ribeiro, & de Lima, 2015) ρ-Cymene Anxiolytic, antioxidant, anticancer, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects (Chouksey et al, 2010;Marchese et al, 2017) Linalool Local anesthetic activity, antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antihyperalgesic activities (Chouksey et al, 2010;Peana, Moretti, Watson, & Preedy, 2008) (…”