Natural essential oils as a new therapeutic tool in colorectal cancer

Garzoli, Stefania; Alarcón-Zapata, Pedro; Seitimova, Gulnaz; Alarcón-Zapata, Barbara; Martorell, Miquel; Sharopov, Farukh; Fokou, Patrick Valere Tsouh; Dize, Darline; Yamthe, Lauve Rachel Tchokouaha; Les, Francisco; Cásedas, Guillermo; López, Víctor; Iriti, Marcello; Rad, Javad Sharifi; Gürer, Eda Sönmez; Calina, Daniela; Pezzani, Raffaele; Vitalini, Sara

doi:10.1186/s12935-022-02806-5

Cancer Cell International

Table 1 Chemical composition of EOs and the correlation with different CRC experimental models

From: Natural essential oils as a new therapeutic tool in colorectal cancer

Plant species	Family of plants	Tested CRC cell lines	Concentration	Potential mechanism	Main chemical compounds	Refs.
Lavandula stoechas ssp. stoechas	Lamiaceae Labiatae	COL-2	IC₅₀ = 9.8 μg/mL	Not available	pulegone, hexahydrothymol, menthone	[51]
Annona Cheirmola Annon squamosa Annona Abdel Razik	Annonaceae	HCT116	IC₅₀ = 2.1 μg/mL IC₅₀ = 0.7 μg/mL IC₅₀ = 0.7 μg/mL	Not available	α-pinene, β-pinene, α-copaene, 2-carene isocaryophyllene, caryophyllene	[52]
Cymbopogon flexuosus	Poaceae	HT-29 HCT-15 SW-620 502,713	IC₅₀ = 42.4 μg/mL IC₅₀ = 60.2 μg/mL IC₅₀ = 28.1 μg/mL IC₅₀ = 4.2 μg/mL	Not available	not available	[53]
Illicium verum	Asteraceae Compositae	HCT-116 HT-29 CCD-18co	IC₅₀ = 50.34 μg/mL IC₅₀ = 100 μg/mL IC₅₀ = 200 μg/mL	↑Apoptosis ↓ Metastasis	tans-anethole elaidic acid palmitic acid	[54]
Commiphora molmol	Burseraceae	HCT-116	IC₅₀ = 19.71 μg/mL	Not available	2-acetoxy-furano-diene furanoeudesma-1,3-diene furanoeudesma-1,4-dien-6-one isofuranogermacrene	[55]
Capparis spinosa L	Burseraceae	HT-29	Not available	↓Proliferation, ↓NF-kB no apoptosis in HT-29 cells ↑Cell cycle arrest G2/M phase	methyl isothiocyanate	[56]
L. hybrid Re L. latifolia Medikus L. vera D.C	Lamiaceae Labiatae	Caco-2	IC₅₀ = 0.9132 mg/mL IC₅₀ = 0.7798 mg/mL IC₅₀ = 1.224 mg/mL IC₅₀ = 1.631 mg/mL	↑ROS/RNS, ↓Akt ↓mTOR ↓MAPK, ↓NF-κB	linalool linalyl acetate 1,8-cineole	[57]
Cinnamomum glanduliferum Bark	Lamiaceae	HCT-116	IC₅₀ = 9.1 μg/mL	Not available	eucalyptol, terpinen-4-ol α -terpineol	[58]
Achillea fragrantissima	Asteraceae	SW48 HCT116	IC₅₀ = 110.1 μg/mL IC₅₀ = 134.6 μg/mL	Not available	Artemisia ketone camphor, α-bisabolol	[59]
Grapefruit	Rutaceae	HCT116	Not available	Dose-dependent antiproliferative activity	nerylisovalerate, 1,8-cineole neryl-2-methyl-butanoate chamazulene, linalool, camphor germacrene D, nerol linalyl propionate	[60]
Artemisia dubia Wall	Asteraceae	HCT116	IC₅₀ = 31.25 μg/mL	Not available	limonene, linalyl acetate γ-terpinene, linalool β-pinene, bergapten	[61]
Ocimum viride	Lamiaceae Labiatae	HT-29 502,713 SW-620	IC₅₀ = 0.034 μL/mL	↑DNA damage ↑Cells death ↑Apoptotis	thymol, γ -terpinene p-cymene	[62]
Cinnamomum stenophyllum (Meisn.) Vattimo-Gil	Lauraceae	HCT116	IC₅₀ = 9.95 μg/mL	Not available	eugenol, safrol, benzyl benzoate, 1,8-cineole, camphor	[63]
Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle	Rutaceae	NIH3T3 SW-480	IC₅₀ = 6.25 μg/mL	↑DNA fragmentation ↑caspase-3 ↑Bax/Bcl2	D-Limonene, D-Dihydrocarvone α -Terpineol	[64]
Citrus limettioides	Rutaceae	SW480	IC₅₀ = 50 μg/mL	↑Apoptosis	d-Limonene triacontane α-Bisabolene α-Farnesene (R)-( +)-Citronellol	[65]
Heracleum pastinacifoliu Heracleum persicum Heracleum rechingeri Heracleum transcaucasicum	Apiaceae	LS180	IC₅₀ = 1.4 mg/mL	Not available	myristicin (E)-anethole hexyl butanoate elemicin	[66]
Comptonia peregrina L	Myricaceae	DLD-1	IC₅₀ = 47 μg/mL	Not available	β -caryophyllene, α-humulene, β -myrcene	[67]
Cotula cinerea (Delile)	Asteraceae	HCT116	IC₅₀ = 86.7 μg/mL IC₉₀ = 122.3 µg/mL	Not available	trans-thujone santolina triene, α- pinene, sabinene, 1,8-cineole	[68]
Leonotis nepetifolia	Lamiaceae Labiatae		IC₅₀ = 16.78 mg/mL	Not available	germacrene D, α-humulene, 3-octanone, (E)-ocimene, (Z)-ocimene, linalool, β -caryophyllene, 1-octen-3-ol	[69]
Eryngium campestre Eryngium amethystinum	Apiaceae		IC₅₀ = 1.65 μg/mL IC₅₀ = 1.64 μg/mL	Not available	germacrene D, spathulenol, alloaromadendrene, ledol, γ-cadinene, β -Elemene	[70]
Tagetes erecta L	Asteraceae	HT29	IC₅₀ = 6.94 μg/mL	Not available	limonene (10.4%), dihydrotagetone (11.8%), terpinolene (18.1%), (E)-ocimenone (13.0%)	[71]
Tetradenia riparia (Hochst.)	Lamiaceae Labiatae		IC₅₀ = 77.47 μg/mL		fenchone (6.1%), dronabinol (11.0%), aromadendrene oxide (14.7%) (E,E)–farnesol (15.0%)
Bidens sulphurea (Cav.)	Asteraceae		IC₅₀ = 268.8 μg/mL		(E)-caryophyllene(10.5%) germacrene D (35.0%) 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (43.0%)
Foeniculum vulgare Mill.,	Apiaceae		Not available		limonene (21.3%) (E)-anethole (70.2%)
Piper betel L	Piperaceae	RCM-1	IC₅₀ = 500 μg/mL	Duct formation after treated with EO	chavicol, chavibetol, cineol, eugenol	[72]
Cymbopogon nadus L	Poaceae				octyl acetate (54.9–60.2%) octyl butyrate (10.1–13.4%)
Syzygium aromaticum L	Myrtaceae				eugenol, eugenyl acetate, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene
Alpinia galanga L	Zingiberaceae				1,8-cineol, alpha-pinene, eugenol, camphor, methyl cinnamate
Psidium guajava L	Myrtaceae				β-caryophyllene, cineol
Ocimum americanum L	Lamiaceae Labiatae				limonene, 1,8-cineol, δ-cadinene, α-pinene α-terpineol
Ocimum tenuiflorum L	Lamiaceae Labiatae				camphor, cineol, eugenol, limonene, rosmarinic acid
Citrus hystrix DC	Rutaceae				β-pinene, limonene, caryophyllene, sabinene, citronellol, 1,8-cineol
Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf	Poaceae				citral, myrcene, geraniol, nerol, farnesol, citronellol
Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf	Zingiberaceae				camphene, eucalyptol, ocimen, camphor, geraniol
Citrus aurantifolia (Christm. et Panz.) Swings	Rutaceae				D-limonene, pinene, camphene, bergapten
Ocimum basilicum L	Lamiaceae Labiatae				estragole, linalool, 1,8-cineole
Curcuma longa L	Zingiberaceae				turmerone, aromatic (ar-) turmerone
Rosa damascena	Rosaceae	SW742	IC₅₀ = 10 μg/mL	↓Cell proliferation	not available	[39]
Pistacia atlantica	Anacardiaceae	Caco-2 HCT116	IC₅₀ = 62.85 μg/mL IC₅₀ = 34.97 μg/mL	Not available	α-pinene, sabinene, limonene, terpinene-4-ol, β-pinene	[73]
Phoebe bournei (Hemsl.)	Laureaceae	SW480	IC₅₀ = 41.3 l μg/mL	Not available	α-copaene, α-muurolene, δ-cadinene, 1 s-calamenene	[74]
Ammodaucus leucotrichus Cosson & Durieu	Apiaceae	HCT116	IC₅₀ = 41.3 l μg/mL	Not available	perillaldehyde, D- limonene α-pinene	[75]
Inula graveolens (Linnaeus) Desf	Linnaeus	HT29	IC₅₀ = 24.6 μg/mL	Not available	bornyl acetate, corneol caryophyllene oxide δ-cadinol, camphene	[76]
Ocimum viride	Lamiaceae Labiatae	COLO 205	IC₅₀ = 0.070, 0.058, 0.033 μg/mL at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively	↑DNA damage ↑mitochondrial membrane permeability ↑apoptosis	thymol, α-pinene geranyl acetate β-caryophyllene oxide	[77]
Artemisia indica Wild	Asteraceae	Caco-2	IC₅₀ = 19.5 μg/mL	Not available	Artemisia ketone, germacrene B borneol cis-chrysanthenyl acetate	[78]
Pogostemon cablin	Lamiaceae Labiatae	HCT116 SW480	Not available	↑p21 ↓Cyclin D1 ↓CDK4	not available	[79]
Eugenia uniflora	Myrtaceae	HCT-116	IC₅₀ = 16.26 μg/mL IC₅₀ = 9.28 μg/mL	Not available	curzerene, selina-1,3,7(11)-trien-2- one, selina-1,3,7(11)-trien-2-one epoxide, germacrene B, caryophyllene oxide, (E)-caryophyllene	[80]
Origanum onites L	Origanum	HT-29	IC₅₀ = 0.35 μg/mL	Not available	terp-1-in-4-ol, sabinene hydrate, γ-terpinene, p-cymene α-terpineol	[81]
Stachys viticina Boiss	Lamiaceae Labiatae	Colo-205	Not available	Not available	endo-borneol, eucalyptol epizonarene	[82]
Moringa oleifera	Moringaceae	Caco-2	↑Cytotoxicity	↑Morphological alterations ↑Cell blebbing and vacuolation ↑Autophagy ↑Cancer cell death	not available	[83]
Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau	Rutaceae	Human and rat isolated CRC cells	Not available	EOs inhibited neuronally-mediated contractions in the rat and human CRC	(R)-( +)-limonene linalyl acetate linalool	[84]
Melissa officinalis	Lamiaceae Labiatae	HT-29 T84	IC₅₀ = 346 μg/mL IC₅₀ = 120 μg/mL	↑Cell cycle arrest ↑Apoptosis	not available	[85]
Mesua ferrea	Calophyllaceae	HCT 116 IM1215	IC₅₀ = 17.38 μg/mL IC₅₀ = 18.86 μg/mL	↑Morphological and biochemical changes in HCT 116	isoledene, elemene	[86]
Origanum majorana	Lamiaceae Labiatae	HT-29	Not available	↑Autophagy ↑Apoptotis ↑p38, ↑MAPK	terpinen-4-ol, alpha-terpinol α-pinene, camphene, p-cymol β-caryophyllene, bicyclogermacrene, neophytadiene	[87]
Thymus alternans		HCT-15 HCT116	IC₅₀ = 5–8 l μg/mL	Not available	(E)-nerolidol, (E)-β-Ocimene geranial	[88]
Mentha citrata		HCT116	IC₅₀ = 80.6 μg/mL IC₉₀ = 119.1 μg/mL	Not available	linalool. linalyl acetate 1,8-cineole, a-terpineol	[89]
Teucrium alopecurus		HCT116	Not available	↑Apoptosis ↓Cells survival ↓Proliferation ↓Invasion ↓Angiogenesis ↓Metastasis	( +)-epi-bicyclo sesquiphellandrene α-bisabolol, Ƭ-muurolol α-cadinol, β-phellandrene d-limonene	[90]
Ocimum basilicum, Mentha spicata, Pimpinella anisum, Fortunella margarita	Lamiaceae Apiaceae Rutaceae	Caco₂	Sweet basil IC₅₀ = 0.071 mg/mL Kumquat IC₅₀ = 0.1 mg/mL Spearmint IC₅₀ = 0.162 mg/mL Anise IC₅₀ = 0.25 mg/mL	Not available	carvone in spearmint methyl chavicol in sweet basil trans-anethole in anise limonene in kumquat	[91]
Pinus roxburghii	Pinaceae	HCT116	IC₅₀ = 25.0 μg/mL	↑Apoptosis	α-pinene caryophyllene oxide 3-carene β-pinene	[92]
Artemisia santonicum	Asteraceae	HCT116	Not available	↓Pro-inflammatory factors ↓Cell growth ↓Cancer cells survival	camphor, 1,8-cineole α-thujone borneol, β-thujone	[93]
Smyrnium olusatrum L	Apiaceae	HCT116	IC₅₀ = 10.71 μg/mL	↑DNA fragmentation ↑Phosphatidylserine ↑Caspase-3	isofuranodiene germacrone furano-4(15)-eudesmen-1-one furanoeremophil-1-one 1β-acetoxyfuranoeudesm-4(15)-ene	[94]
Zataria multiflora Boiss	Lamiaceae Labiatae	HCT116 SW48	Not available	↓Cell proliferation ↑Apoptosis	not available	[95]
Zedoary Turmeric	Zingiberaceae	HCT116	IC₅₀ = 101 μg/mL	↓Growth of cancer cells ↑Senescence ↑Apoptosis	not available	[96]
Artemisia campestri	Asteraceae	HT-29	Not available	Not available	A.Campestris: β-pinene, limonene,, germacrene-D, γ-terpinene, β-myrcene, α-pinene, (Z)-β-ocimene (E)-β-ocimene	[97]
Croton lechleri	Cynomoriaceae	LoVo	IC₅₀ = 74.95 μg/mL	↑Change in fatty acid composition	sesquicineole, α-calacorene, 1,10-di-epi-cubenol,, β-calacorene, epicedrol	[98]
Allium Roseum L	Alliaceae	HT-29 Caco-2	IC₅₀ = 4.64 μg/mL IC₅₀ = 8.22 μg/mL	Not available	methyl methanethiosulfinate, 3-vinyl.1,2-dithiacyclohex-5-ene diallyl trisulfide	[99]
Chrysanthemum coronarium L	Asteraceae	Caco-2	IC₅₀ = 43.0 μg/mL	Not available	not available	[100]
Beilschmiedia erythrophloia	Lauraceae	HT-29	IC₅₀ = 18.9 μg/mL	Not available	β-caryophyllene, α-humulene terpinen-4-ol, cis-β-ocimene, sabinene, limonene	[101]
Machilus mushaensis	Lauraceae		IC₅₀ = 3.8 μg/mL	Not available	n-decanal, α-cadinol	[102]
Porcelia macrocarpa	Annonaceae		IC₅₀ = 50.8 μg/mL	Not available	germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene	[103]
Neolitsea variabillima	Lauraceae		IC₅₀ = 16.8 μg/mL	Not available	β-ocimene, α-cadinol, terpinen-4-ol, τ-cadinol, β-caryophyllene, sabinene	[104]
Diospyros discolor	Ebonaceae		IC₅₀ = 10.6 μg/mL	Not available	(2Z,6E)-farnesol, α-cadinol, (E)-nerolidol, Ƭ-cadinol, Ƭ-muurolol, α-humulene, β-caryophyllene	[105]
Machilus thunbergii	Lauraceae		IC₅₀ = 3.8 μg/mL	Not available	n-decana, β-caryophyllene α-humulene, β-eudesmol	[106]
Salvia libanotica	Lamiaceae Labiatae	HCT116 p53 + / + HCT116 p53-/-	Not available	↑Apoptosis ↑Caspase-3 in p53 + / + cancer cells but not p53-/- cells	not available	[107]
Origanum vulgare	Lamiaceae Labiatae	HT-29	Not available	Not available	4-terpineol, thymol, γ-terpinene, carvacrol	[108]
Athanasia brownii	Asteraceae	HCT116	IC₅₀ = 29.5 μg/mL	Not available	selin-11-en-4a-ol, caryophyllene oxide humulene epoxide II (E)-nerolidol	[109]
Afrostyrax lepidophyllus, Scorodophloeus zenkeri	Huaceae, Fabaceae	HCT116	IC₅₀ = 12.4 μg/mL IC₅₀ = 8.5 μg/mL	Not available	2,4,5,7-tetrathiaoctane	[110]
Salvia officinalis	Lamiaceae Labiatae	HT-29 Caco-2 HCT116	Not available	↑Morphological changes	α-thujone 1,8-cineole, camphor	[111]
Hedychium spicatum	Zingiberaceae	LD-1 SW620	IC₅₀ = 26.75–94.35 mg/mL	Not available	1,8-cineol, hedycaryol, β-eudesmol, Ƭ-eudesmol, cubenol, α-cadinol	[112]
Allium sativum	Allium	HT-29 c	Not available	↑Apoptotis	not available	[113]
Moringa oleifera	Moringaceae	Caco-2	Toxicity% = 49.7%	↓Cell viability	not available	[83]
Myristica fragrans	Myristicaceae	Caco-2	Not available	Not available	myristicin, sabinene, α-pinene β-pinene, β-Phellandrene safrole, terpinen-4-ol	[114]
Callistemon citrinus	Myrtaceae	Colo-205	Not available	Not remarkable activity	α-pinene, limonene α-terpineol in leaf oil, 1,8-cineole α-pinene in flower oil	[115]
Eugenia egensis Eugenia flavescens Eugenia polystachya Eugenia patrisii	Myrtaceae	HCT-116	IC₅₀ = 10.5–216.3 mg/mL	↑Cell membrane disruption	5-hydroxy-cis-calemene (2E,6E)-farnesol, (2E,6Z)-farnesol caryophylla-4(12),8(13)-dien-5-ol-5 -ol E–bisabolene, germacrene D, and ishwarane	[116]
Aquilaria crassna	Thymelaeaceae	HCT-116	IC₅₀ = 28.0 μg/mL	↑Apoptotis ↑DNA fragmentation ↑mitochondrial damage	β-caryophyllene 1-Phenanthrenecarboxylic acid 2-naphthalene-methanol α-caryophyllene benzenedicarboxylic acid Azulene, naphthalene, cyclodecene	[117]
Nectandra leucantha	Lauraceae	HCT	IC₅₀ = 194.8 μg/mL	Not available	bicyclogermacrene germacrene A spathulenol, globulol	[118]
Semenovia suffruticosa	Apiaceae	HT-29	IC₅₀ = 341 μg/mL	Morphological changes	Z-β-ocimene linalool, β-bisabolol	[119]
Piper aequale	Piperaceae	HCT-116	IC₅₀ = 8.68 μg/mL	Not available	δ-elemene, β-pinene, α-pinene, cubebol, β-atlantol bicyclogermacrene	[120]
Pistacia lentiscus var. chia	Anacardiaceae	HT-29 Caco-2 CT26	IC₅₀ = 0.1752 mg/mL IC₅₀ = 0.0368 mg/mL IC₅₀ = 0.1335 mg/mL	↓Proliferation of colon cancer cells	α-pinene myrcene	[121]
Faeniculum vulgare	Apiaceae	HCT-116	Not available	↓DNA damages ↓mitochondrial membrane potential loss	not available	[122]

Symbols: ↑increase, ↓decrease

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