The antitumor effects of geraniol: Modulation of cancer hallmark pathways (Review)

Abstract

Geraniol is a dietary monoterpene alcohol that is found in the essential oils of aromatic plants. To date, experimental evidence supports the therapeutic or preventive effects of geraniol on different types of cancer, such as breast, lung, colon, prostate, pancreatic, and hepatic cancer, and has revealed the mechanistic basis for its pharmacological actions. In addition, geraniol sensitizes tumor cells to commonly used chemotherapy agents. Geraniol controls a variety of signaling molecules and pathways that represent tumor hallmarks; these actions of geraniol constrain the ability of tumor cells to acquire adaptive resistance against anticancer drugs. In the present review, we emphasize that geraniol is a promising compound or chemical moiety for the development of a safe and effective multi-targeted anticancer agent. We summarize the current knowledge of the effects of geraniol on target molecules and pathways in cancer cells. Our review provides novel insight into the challenges and perspectives with regard to geraniol research and to its application in future clinical investigation.

Research Article Cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of geraniol in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and human hepatoma cell line (HepG2).

“…Considering that HepG2 is a cell line derived from the liver tumor, the noted reduction in the percentage of viable cells for the concentration of 10 µg/mL geraniol onwards, might, therefore, be justified, once the same cytotoxicity pattern was not obtained when used normal cells. Literature data demonstrate that geraniol specifically suppresses the tumor growth, but not affect the normal physiology of individual cells (Cho et al, 2016). The decrease in the cell proliferation and the increase of apoptosis in HepG2 cells, according to Crespo et al (2013), pertain to the inhibitory effect on mevalonate pathways and phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis, both promoted by geraniol.…”

“…The first performs an important role in the cholesterol synthesis, necessary for the rapid growth of cancer cells and their proliferation and the second is a pathway associated with apoptosis. According to Cho et al (2016), in liver cancer, geraniol inhibits the resisting cell death; however, is still unknown how this occurs. It is believed that this monoterpene affects signaling molecules related to the acquisition of cancer hallmarks, particularly those involved in the cell cycle and apoptosis (Cho et al, 2016).…”

“…According to Cho et al (2016), in liver cancer, geraniol inhibits the resisting cell death; however, is still unknown how this occurs. It is believed that this monoterpene affects signaling molecules related to the acquisition of cancer hallmarks, particularly those involved in the cell cycle and apoptosis (Cho et al, 2016). Sawada et al (2016) suggest that beyond geraniol modulates the mechanisms of cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis also modulates the processes involved in the inhibition of angiogenesis, cooperating with their antitumor effect in the liver.…”

Four microRNAs Signature for Survival Prognosis in Colon Cancer using TCGA Data

“…Furthermore, many genes participated in transcription activity (more than 50 genes, Table 3), mRNA processing (more than 5 genes, Table s5), RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity (more than 10 genes, Table 3). These genes were associated with limitless replicative potential, inflammation cytokines release, and immune system15161718. Additionally, we performed KEGG pathway analysis, and found that all pathways were associated with cancer, such as p53 pathway (7 genes, p = 0.002, Table 2), glioma pathway (8 genes, p = 0.001, Table 2), pathway in cancer (14 genes, p = 0.009 Table 2), et al .…”

Directed evolution and expression tuning of geraniol synthase for efficient geraniol production in <i>Escherichia coli</i>

“…It is commercially important in the flavor and fragrance industries due to its pleasant rose-like odor (Chen and Viljoen, 2010;Rastogi et al, 2001). Geraniol also has value in anticancer drugs (Cho et al, 2016;Lesgards et al, 2014), pesticides, and anthelmintic or antimicrobial reagents (reviewed in Chen and Viljoen, 2010), and it is the precursor of a number of secondary plant metabolites, such as antimitotic alkaloids (Burlat et al, 2004; Geu-Flores et al, (Tsuruta et al, 2009).…”