Title:Anticancer Properties of Essential Oils: An Overview
Volume: 18
Issue: 10
Author(s): Milene Aparecida Andrade, Mariana Aparecida Braga, Pedro Henrique Souza Cesar, Marcus Vinicius Cardoso Trento, Mariana Araújo Espósito, Lucilene Fernandes Silva and Silvana Marcussi*
Affiliation:
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais,Brazil
Keywords:
Antitumor agents, natural products, secondary metabolites, terpenes, phenylpropanoids, essential oils.
Abstract: Background: Essential oils are complex mixtures of low molecular weight compounds
extracted from plants. Their main constituents are terpenes and phenylpropanoids, which are responsible
for their biological and pharmaceutical properties, such as insecticidal, parasiticidal, antimicrobial,
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antinociceptive, anticarcinogenic, and antitumor
properties. Cancer is a complex genetic disease considered as a serious public health problem
worldwide, accounting for more than 8 million deaths annually.
Objective: The activities of prevention and treatment of different types of cancer and the medicinal
potential of essential oils are addressed in this review.
Conclusion: Several studies have demonstrated anti-carcinogenic and antitumor activity for many
essential oils obtained from various plant species. They may be used as a substitution to or in addition
to conventional anti-cancer therapy. Although many studies report possible mechanisms of action
for essential oils compounds, more studies are necessary in order to apply them safely and appropriately
in cancer therapy.
