Apoptotic effect of carvacrol on different cancer cells and its potential as an active medicine ingredient

Abstract

Apoptosis is the programmed death of cells that have lost their function, have been damaged, or are no longer needed in the organism. Genes that control this process are overexpressed in some tumors. Carvacrol, a terpenoid, has been shown to inhibit tumor growth and induce apoptosis in cancerous cells, increasing caspase activity, DNA fragmentation, and the expression of the Bax protein, while decreasing Bcl-2 expression. In this review, the effects of carvacrol on various cancers and its potential as a drug are summarized. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.