Open Accessd-Limonene: a bioactive food component from citrus and evidence for a potential role in breast cancer prevention and treatment
Author(s) -
Jessica A. Miller,
Patricia A. Thompson,
Iman A. Hakim,
H.H. Sherry Chow,
Cynthia A. Thomson
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
oncology reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.637
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1970-5565
pISSN - 1970-5557
DOI - 10.4081/oncol.2011.14
Subject(s) - medicine , limonene , breast cancer , clinical trial , pharmacology , cancer , bioavailability , biology , food science , essential oil
Although limited, observations from cell culture, animal, and epidemiological studies support the presence of anti-cancer properties in citrus peel and the primary bioactive food constituent, d-limonene. Early evidence from animal models suggests that when ingested, d-limonene exhibits a wide spectrum of biologic activity including chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive effects. In some of these early models, an analog of d-limonene, perillyl alcohol, demonstrated a more potent effect than d-limonene itself. Yet, when perillyl alcohol advanced to clinical trials, several trials were ended early due to doselimiting toxicities. Alternatively, oral d-limonene administration in humans is well tolerated even at high doses supporting its investigation as a potential bioactive for cancer prevention. Though the exact mechanisms of action of d-limonene are unclear, immune modulation and antiproliferative effects are commonly reported. Here, we review the pre-clinical evidence for d-limonene’s anticancer mechanisms, bioavailability, and safety, as well as the evidence for anti-cancer effects in humans, focusing on studies relevant to its use in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.