Title:Carvacrol as a Prospective Regulator of Cancer Targets/Signalling Pathways
Volume: 16
Author(s): Jyoti Singh, Suaib Luqman*Abha Meena*
Affiliation:
- Bioprospection and Product Development Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow-
226015, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and
Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Bioprospection and Product Development Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow-
226015, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and
Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
Keywords:
Carvacrol, terpenoids, phytochemicals, anti-cancer, signalling pathway, biomarker.
Abstract:
Background: Carvacrol is a naturally occurring phenolic isopropyl monoterpene isolated
from oregano, thyme, pepperwort, ajwain, marjoram, and wild bergamot. It possesses
pharmacological activities, including anticancer, anti-genotoxic, and anti-inflammation associated
with antioxidant properties. The antioxidant property of carvacrol is found to be accountable
for its anticancer property. Thus, the present review summarizes and discusses the anticancer potential
of carvacrol, revealing its target, signalling pathways, efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and
toxicity.
Objective: Carvacrol showed promising activity to be considered in more detail for cancer treatment.
This review aims to summarize the evidence concerning the understanding of anticancer
potential of carvacrol. However, the mode of action of carvacrol is not yet fully explored and
hence requires detailed exploratory studies. This review consists of carvacol’s in vitro, in vivo,
preclinical and clinical studies.
Methods: A literature search was done by searching various online databases like Pubmed, Scopus,
and Google Scholar with the specific keyword “Carvacrol,” along with other keywords,
such as “antioxidant properties,” “oncology research,” “genotoxicity,” and “anti-inflammatory
property”.
Results: Carvacrol possesses weak mutagenic and genotoxic potential at non-toxic doses. Carvacrol
alone shows the potential to target cancerous cells and significantly deter the growth of
cancer cells; this is a targeted method. It offers anti-inflammatory effects by decreasing oxidative
stress, primarily targeting ER and mitochondria. Carvacrol depicts targeted explicitly ROSdependent
and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in different cancer cells. Moreover, carvacrol
significantly regulates the cell cycle and prevents tumor progression. Few reports also suggest its
significant role in inhibiting cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in tumor cells. Hence,
carvacrol affects cell survival and cell-killing activity by targeting key biomarkers and major
signalling pathways, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR, MAPK, STAT3, and Notch.
Conclusion: Until now, its anticancer mechanism is not yet fully explored. A limited number of
research studies have been conducted on carvacrol. It possesses both cancer prevention and cancer
therapeutic properties. This molecule needs more validatory research so that it can be analyzed
precisely.
