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Essential oils: from prevention to treatment of skin cancer

P S Pavithra1, Alka Mehta1, Rama S Verma2

  • 1School of BioSciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632 014, India.

Drug Discovery Today
|December 4, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Essential oils (EOs) show promise in preventing and treating skin cancers, including melanoma. This review explores their chemopreventive and therapeutic potential, mechanisms of action, and application in various models.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Pharmacology
  • Natural Product Chemistry

Background:

  • Rising rates of skin cancer necessitate diverse therapeutic strategies.
  • Botanical extracts are recognized for their anti-skin-cancer properties.
  • Research on essential oils (EOs) for skin cancer chemoprevention and therapy is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the chemopreventive and therapeutic effects of EOs and their components on skin cancer.
  • To summarize findings from in vitro and in vivo studies.
  • To present the mechanisms of action for EO-induced cell death in skin cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature search on EOs and skin cancer.
  • Inclusion of studies on chemoprevention, anti-melanoma, and anti-nonmelanoma activities.
  • Analysis of in vitro and in vivo experimental models.

Main Results:

  • EOs and their constituents exhibit significant chemopreventive and therapeutic potential against skin cancers.
  • Evidence supports the anti-melanoma and anti-nonmelanoma activities of various EOs.
  • Mechanisms include induction of apoptosis and other cell death pathways.

Conclusions:

  • EOs represent a promising natural resource for skin cancer prevention and treatment.
  • Further research into specific EO components and their mechanisms is warranted.
  • EOs could offer novel therapeutic avenues for cutaneous malignancies.

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