Anticancer, antineurodegenerative, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic activities of carvacrol: recent advances and limitations for effective formulations

Bioactive compounds isolated from medicinal plant species can synergize therapeutic properties of conventional drugs. At this regard, improved biocompatibility and bioavailability have been obtained. Carvacrol as a monoterpenic phenol has pharmacologic features including antimicrobial, anticancer, antineurodegenerative activities and antioxidant properties toward periodontal disease and diabetes mellitus. This metabolite can be applied to reducing inflammation and oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in neurodegenerative diseases. Carvacrol has anticancer activity by induction of apoptosis in tumor cells. Growth inhibition of bacteria, fungi, and viruses can be possible by this metabolite in a dose-dependent way. In the case of diabetes, α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes were inhibited by carvacrol. In this review, we have provided recent advances and challenges for formulations of this bioactive compound in both nano and micro scales. In this way, loading carvacrol by lipid and polymeric nanocarriers exhibited effective therapeutic activity in vivo and in vitro.