Karolina A Wojtunik-Kulesza. Molecules. 2022.
*Note: Monoterpenes are found in many parts of different plants, such as barks, heartwood, softwood of trees, in vegetables, fruits and herbs. Essential oils are very rich in monoterpenes.
For a complete list of essential oils (and other ingredients) that should be avoided, please see:
List of Ingredients to Avoid
Abstract
Monoterpenes make up the largest group of plant secondary metabolites. They can be found in numerous plants, among others, the Lamiaceae family. The compounds demonstrate antioxidative, antibacterial, sedative and anti-inflammatory activity, hence, they are often employed in medicine and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, their fragrant character is often made use of, notably in the food and cosmetic industries. Nevertheless, long-lasting studies have revealed their toxic properties. This fact has led to a detailed analysis of the compounds towards their side effects on the human organism. Although most are safe for human food and medical applications, there are monoterpene compounds that, in certain amounts or under particular circumstances (e.g., pregnancy), can cause serious disorders. The presented review characterises in vitro and in vivo, the toxic character of selected monoterpenes, as well as that of their original plant sources and their essential oils. The selected monoterpenes reveal various toxic properties among which are embryotoxic, neurotoxic, allergenic and genotoxic. It is also known that the essential oils of popular plants can also reveal toxic characteristics that many people are unaware of.
Keywords:
Toxicity, monoterpenes, plant secondary metabolites, teratogenicity, neurotoxicity, abortifacient, genotoxicity
Conclusions
The review was focused on the toxic properties of selected monoterpenes that are well known and often used in various industries including the food and pharmaceutical industries. It is recognised that most of the known monoterpenes reveal valuable biological activities, but some of them also demonstrate a toxic character….Additionally, essential oils rich in monoterpenes have shown a toxic character evaluated in in vitro and in vivo studies, thus their usage should be closely controlled. Unfortunately, in some cases, the side effects of monoterpenes may outweigh the benefits.
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