Antioxidant Effect of Pinene in Biological Systems

INTRODUCTION: Pinenes, compounds from the monoterpene class, stand out for their bioactive properties, such as their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. Oxidative stress, associated with various chronic diseases, has increased the demand for natural antioxidants like pinenes, which are widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. OBJECTIVE: We wished to investigate the antioxidant potential of pinenes. METHOD: This was a literature review on the antioxidant potential of pinenes. The article selection was conducted between October and November 2024 through searches in the Scielo, PubMed, and CAPES journal databases using the descriptors and the Boolean operators “pinene” AND “antioxidant.” RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Research has shown that pinenes, such as alpha-pinene and beta-pinene, have significant antioxidant effects. Studies demonstrate that these compounds increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and reduce markers of oxidative stress, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Alpha-pinene protects against carbon-tetrachloride-induced cardiac lesions in rats by modulating oxidative stress and inflammation. Beta-pinene has shown potential in reducing the oxidative stress caused by arsenic in rice plants, promoting the recovery of natural antioxidant defenses. Pinenes, especially alpha- and beta-pinene, demonstrate great potential as antioxidants, with the ability to reduce oxidative stress and modulate inflammatory processes. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that pinenes have therapeutic potential in diseases related to oxidative stress, such as neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases, standing out as promising candidates for the development of treatments and products in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. However, most of these studies have been conducted in animal or plant models, highlighting the need for human research to confirm these benefits.