| Description | Terpinen-4-ol, also known as p-Menth-1-en-4-ol, 1-para-menthen-4-ol or 4-carvomenthenol, is an isomer of terpineol. It belongs to the class of organic compounds known as menthane monoterpenoids. These are monoterpenoids with a structure based on the o-, m-, or p-menthane backbone. P-menthane consists of the cyclohexane ring with a methyl group and a (2-methyl)-propyl group at the 1 and 4 ring position, respectively. The o- and m- menthanes are much rarer, and presumably arise by alkyl migration of p-menthanes. Terpinene-4-ol is a hydrophobic, largely neutral molecule that is essentially insoluble in water. It has a peppery, spicy, musty, citrus odor and a cooling woody or spicy taste. Terpinene-4-ol is widely used as a flavoring agent and as a masking agent in cosmetics. Terpinene-4-ol is a natural product that can be found in a number of plants, such as allspice, anise, apple, basil, cardamom, cinnamon and Melaleuca alternifolia (also called tea tree) and is the main bioactive component of tea tree oil (PMID 22083482 ). Terpinene-4-ol is also one of the monoterpenes found in cannabis plants (PMID:6991645 ). Terpinen-4-ol is a potent bactericidal agent that also possess antifungal properties. In particular, it has shown in vitro activity against Staphylococcus aureus and C. albicans (PMID:27275783 ). It has also been shown that combining this natural substance and conventional drugs may help treat resistant yeast and bacterial infections. Several studies have suggested that terpinen-4-ol induces antitumor effects by selectively causing necrotic cell death and cell-cycle arrest in melanoma cell lines, or by triggering caspase-dependent apoptosis in human melanoma cells (PMID:27275783 ). |
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