Exploring the Potent Anticancer Activity of Essential Oils and Their Bioactive Compounds: Mechanisms and Prospects for Future Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, affecting millions of people each year. Fortunately, the last decades have been marked by considerable advances in the field of cancer therapy. Researchers have discovered many natural substances, some of which are isolated from plants that have promising anti-tumor activity. Among these, essential oils (EOs) and their constituents have been widely studied and shown potent anticancer activities, both in vitro and in vivo. However, despite the promising results, the precise mechanisms of action of EOs and their bioactive compounds are still poorly understood. Further research is needed to better understand these mechanisms, as well as their effectiveness and safety in use. Furthermore, the use of EOs as anticancer drugs is complex, as it requires absolute pharmacodynamic specificity and selectivity, as well as an appropriate formulation for effective administration. In this study, we present a synthesis of recent work on the mechanisms of anticancer action of EOs and their bioactive compounds, examining the results of various in vitro and in vivo studies. We also review future research prospects in this exciting field, as well as potential implications for the development of new cancer drugs.

Construction of a Synergy Combination Model for Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and Black Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) Extracts: Enhanced Anticancer Activity against A549 and NCI-H292 Human Lung Cancer Cells

“…However, other components, such as essential oils, polyphenols, and alkaloids, in the extracts might also impact the cancer cells. These compounds extracted from other plants revealed potent cytotoxic effects on cancer cells in the previous study [ 4 , 29 , 30 ]. Therefore, it will be also meaningful to conduct future studies that focus on identifying the effects of other components present in both extracts.…”

Biological activities of essential oils: A mini-review

“…More than a hundred essential oils from different plant have been tested on various types of cancers, demonstrating their potential as promising anticancer agents in treating various types of cancer such as leukemia, breast, lung, ovarian, liver, and colon cancers. The mechanisms involved in their anticancer activities include inducing apoptosis, inhibiting cell proliferation, disrupting mitochondrial function, modulating cell cycle progression, and inducing oxidative damage to tumor cells [34] . For example, essential oil (EO) derived from Allium sativum L. bulbs exhibited cytotoxicity against leukemia cells by increasing ROS levels and inducing apoptosis and differentiation [35].…”

An Overview of Cancer in Djibouti: Current Status, Therapeutic Approaches, and Promising Endeavors in Local Essential Oil Treatment

“…These challenges encompass the profound inter-tumoral and intra-tumoral heterogeneity, as well as the complex orchestration of mutations across a myriad of genes, each contributing to the genesis and progression of malignancies. Furthermore, the pervasiveness of cancer across diverse cellular cohorts, ranging from epithelial to stromal and hematopoietic lineages, coupled with its propensity Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16, 1617 9 of 24 to infiltrate various organ systems, compounds the intricacy of this formidable disease landscape [57].…”