Anticancer Activities of Essential Oils Constituents and Synergy with Conventional Therapies: A Review. (16th May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lesgards, Jean‐François; Baldovini, Nicolas; Vidal, Nicolas; Pietri, Sylvia
• Is Part Of: Phytotherapy research. Volume 28:Number 10(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1423
• Page End: 1446
• Publication Date: 2014-05-16
• Subjects: Materia medica, Vegetable -- Periodicals; Botany, Medical -- Periodicals; Medicinal plants -- Periodicals; Plant Extracts -- therapeutic use -- Periodicals; Plants, Medicinal -- Periodicals; 581.634
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5165
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0951-418X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Many studies have shown that a large number of terpenoids and aromatic compounds contained in essential oils have significant anticancer activities, both on cell lines and on tumors in animals. The activity of these constituents is related to the activation of cell death (apoptosis) induced by the caspases proteins in cancer cells, with minor modifications of healthy cells. Many phenomena seem to occur, among which are as follows: overexpression and regulation of liver detoxification enzymes, changes in the membrane potential of cancer cells and mitochondria, production of free radicals in cancer cells, inhibition of angiogenesis, and modification of tumor‐inducing genes. These active essential oil constituents appear to act synergistically with conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and some clinical studies in humans are beginning to be realized. In this review, we discuss about the antitumoral activity of 13 essential oil components selected among the most studied in the literature, with a focus on their possible mode of action. We also report current data on the anticancer properties of several total essential oils. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.</p> </abstract>