Measuring Lavender Essential Oil’s Effect on Cancerous Tumors with GC-MS

A recent joint study between the Department of Biosciences and Territory at the University of Molise (Pesche, Italy) and the IRCCS Neuromed Mediterranean Neurological Institute (Pozzilli, Italy) investigated the effects of lavender essential oil (LEO) on a glioblastoma (GBM) cell model, with chemical characterization using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The investigation indicated that LEO contains several compounds that have been found to exhibit anticancer properties by interfering with key cancer-related pathways in several cancer models. A paper based on this investigation was published in Molecules (1).

GBM is the most prevalent and lethal form of brain cancer in adults, with only modest improvements in survival rates over the past thirty years (2,3). It is distinguished by several aggressive features, including marked mitotic activity, substantial angiogenesis, cellular heterogeneity, necrosis, and rapid proliferation (4,5). While the current treatments for GBM include extensive surgical resection followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ), these have shown limited success in preventing the progression and infiltration of tumors (6,7). The median survival time for GBM patients being approximately 14 months, with most patients experiencing relapses at various intervals post-treatment (8,9). Frequent reoccurrence of GBM is due to its invasive nature and the difficulty to eradicate all cancer cells, including a subpopulation of cancer stem cells. The development of TMZ resistance also represents a major obstacle in the treatment of GBM treatment (10,11).

Lamiaceae plants, including lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), have been used to alleviate anxiety, insomnia, and various neurological conditions, as well as to combat infections, manage pain, and address a range of other ailments (12). LEO in particular has shown to be effective in the prevention of some chemotherapy-induced side effects in human leukemia cells and in xenograft models of human prostate cancer (13-15), and in modulating cholesterol metabolism in a cellular model of hepatocarcinoma (16). The researchers believe that the versatile properties of LEO underscores its potential as a natural remedy with diverse health benefits, positioning it as an intriguing topic for scientific research and therapeutic investigation (1).

GC-MS analysis performed on LEO analyzed in the stud has identified 53 individual components and highlighted the abundance of linalool (33.99%), borneol (13.21%), 1,8-cineole (6.29%), and terpinen-4-ol (5.24%), all of which having been shown in recent studies to suppress cell cycle progression and induce apoptosis in various cancer cells (17-21). These findings demonstrate that both LEO and its terpenic components may represent promising molecules in addressing the aggressive nature of GBM and possess the potential to enhance the effectiveness of TMZ therapy, which may lead to more effective treatments, improved clinical outcomes, and better survival rates for GBM patients (1).

Lavender flowers. © Zea_lenanet- stock.adobe.com

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