09/02/2019 / By Janine Acero
Medicinal plants contain compounds that are known to interfere with the development of diseases such as cancer, and essential oils from these aromatic plants are some of the most potent natural anticancer agents. A study published in the Journal of Essential Oil Research investigated the anti-proliferation effect and cytotoxicity of the essential oil from a species of flowering plant called Lippia alba on human liver and lung cancer cells.
Usually found on brushy hillsides and along roadsides, L. alba, commonly referred to as bushy lippia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Verbenaceae that is native to southern Texas in the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
L. alba is used as a food flavoring and for medicine. It is frequently cultivated throughout Central America as a medicinal plant. Tea made from its leaves is a common natural remedy in Central America for both intestinal and respiratory problems, including influenza.
L. alba is cultivated for its essential oil in Argentina. Its main compound is dihydrocarvone. Other compounds include limonene, pinene, linalol, and camphor.
In the current study, the researchers evaluated the essential oils from L. alba (LaEOs) for their cytotoxicity on human cancer culture cells and the mechanisms involved. They investigated the intraspecific chemical differences in the composition (chemotypes) and the notable chemical diversity of their volatile secondary metabolites.
They found that the LaEOs exhibited selective cytotoxicity against human hepatocarcinoma cell HepG2 (liver cell line) and human alveolar basal epithelial cell A549 (lung cell line). The mechanism involved cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction.
Tagetenone chemotype (LaEOta) treatment was found to inhibit enzymes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis such as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase and farnesyl pyrophosphate. Based on these results, the researchers concluded that tagetenone chemotype could be a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent against human liver and lung cancers.
Essential oils are widely used remedies for a lot of health problems because of their good bioavailability, low toxicity and affordable cost. Below are some of the most common essential oils for managing the side effects of conventional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. (Related: Agarwood essential oil demonstrates promising anti-cancer properties, researchers find.)
EssentialOils.news has more on the potent healing benefits of these substances on cancer therapy side effects.
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Tagged Under: alternative medicine, anticancer, cytotoxic, essential oils, herbal medicine, Lippia alba, Liver cancer, lung cancer, natural cures, natural medicine, plant medicine, prevention, remedies
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