Properties of α- and β-Pinene as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial molecules

Dear colleagues,

Many articles have been written about various types of phytogenic molecules present in different plant extracts, but we see very few articles related to these interesting molecules present in natural remedies used in humans, such as bee propolis.

We are referring to α- and β-pinenes, representatives of the monoterpene group with high concentrations in pine and fir extracts, such as Picea Mariana.

A wide range of pharmacological activities have been reported, such as modulation of antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiprotozoal, and analgesic effects. For example, a recent article from 2020 reported how α-pinene reduces Campylobacter jejuni colonisation in broiler chickens.

This article aims to summarise the most notable effects of α- and β-pinene, and at the end we will discuss bioavailability, since practically all good antioxidants are highly sensitive to the environment, feed processing, and the digestion process itself.

Enjoy the article.