What Is Carvacrol For?

Carvacrol is a chemical compound found in the essential oils of marjoram, oregano, thyme, savory and other plants. Carvacrol is a colorless liquid, slightly soluble in water and soluble in ethanol and ether. It is used as a food preservative, in cosmetics, in disinfectants and in alternative medicine, due to its antibacterial, anti-fungal, analgesic and antioxidant activities.

Disinfectants

• Depending on their chemical composition and concentration, some disinfectants, soaps, detergents and other cleaning products can cause undesirable effects on the environment and on human health. Carvacrol is used in natural and biodegradable disinfectants, often combined with other natural compounds, such as thymol, cymene, cineol and eugenol. The antimicrobial activity of carvacrol was observed in concentrations as low as 0.07 percent.

Food Industry

• Carvacrol is used as a food preservative, due to its antimicrobial activity, as well as its subtle taste and aroma. The addition of carvacrol to food products can inhibit growth of and reduce the numbers of pathogens. Carvacrol can also be applied to food in the form of a vapor to extend the shelf life and improve the safety of food by destroying bacteria such as Salmonella enteritidis and Escherichia coli. The natural compound can also be synthesized in laboratory.

Medicinal Uses

• In aromatherapy -- a form of alternative medicine that employs essential oils as a health treatment -- oregano oil and other extracts rich in carvacrol are used for their anti-inflamatory, analgesic and bactericide properties. Although traditional medicine recognizes the anti-microbial properties of carvacrol, the use of the compound in traditional treatments is still being investigated, as of early 2011. A study published in 2005 in the journal "Cytothechnology" concluded that carvacrol is a very potent growth inhibitor of the A549 strain cell, which is related to human lung cancer.

Cosmetics

• Carvacrol contained in the essential oil of oregano is used in the cosmetic industry as a fragrance, as well as a component of soaps, creams and perfumes. The substance is non-irritating to the human skin and safe when used with a maximum concentration level of 0.5 percent in cosmetics and personal care products, according to the website cosmeticsinfo.org.