Oxygenated monoterpenes citral and carvacrol cause oxidative damage in Escherichia coli without the involvement of tricarboxylic acid cycle and Fenton reaction

These results demonstrated a different mechanism of inactivation by citral and carvacrol with regard to (+)-limonene and bactericidal antibiotics, indicating the complexity of the mechanisms of bacterial inactivation among EO constituents. Advancements in the description of these mechanisms will help in extending and improving the use of these compounds as natural antimicrobials.