Main objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the antimicrobial mechanisms of Carvacrol (5-isopropyl-2-methylphenol),including the alteration of cell membrane fatty acid composition,membrane damage of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 (S.aureus).Moreover,the binding properties of Carvacrol to genomic DNA of S.aureus cells were also investigated to explore the possible intracellular targeting behaviors.Considering the growing interest in the application of PEF in the food industry,the synergetic sterilization effect of Carvacrol with pulsed electric field (PEF) was also determined.