Nanomedicine as an Emerging Technology to Foster Application of Essential Oils to Fight Cancer
Natural prodrugs extracted from plants are increasingly used in many sectors, including the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Among these prodrugs, essential oils (EOs) are of particular importance. These biologically active volatile oily liquids are produced by medicinal and aromatic p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Pharmaceuticals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/15/7/793 |
| _version_ | 1797433181204381696 |
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| author | Khaled AbouAitah Witold Lojkowski |
| author_facet | Khaled AbouAitah Witold Lojkowski |
| author_sort | Khaled AbouAitah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Natural prodrugs extracted from plants are increasingly used in many sectors, including the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Among these prodrugs, essential oils (EOs) are of particular importance. These biologically active volatile oily liquids are produced by medicinal and aromatic plants and characterized by a distinctive odor. EOs possess high anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant potential but often are associated with low stability; high volatility; and a high risk of deterioration with exposure to heat, humidity, light, or oxygen. Furthermore, their bioavailability is limited because they are not soluble in water, and enhancements are needed to increase their potential to target specific cells or tissues, as well as for controlled release. Nanomedicine, the application of nanotechnology in medicine, may offer efficient solutions to these problems. The technology is based on creating nanostructures in which the natural prodrug is connected to or encapsulated in nanoparticles or submicron-sized capsules that ensure their solubility in water and their targeting properties, as well as controlled delivery. The potential of EOs as anticancer prodrugs is considerable but not fully exploited. This review focusses on the recent progress towards the practical application of EOs in cancer therapy based on nanotechnology applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:13:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5d7dffbfe77f449cab0c79b5ae491432 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8247 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:13:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmaceuticals |
| spelling | doaj.art-5d7dffbfe77f449cab0c79b5ae4914322023-12-01T22:33:12ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472022-06-0115779310.3390/ph15070793Nanomedicine as an Emerging Technology to Foster Application of Essential Oils to Fight CancerKhaled AbouAitah0Witold Lojkowski1Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Department, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Institute, National Research Centre (NRC), 33 El-Behouth St., Dokki, Giza 12622, EgyptLaboratory of Nanostructures and Nanomedicine, Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sokolowska 29/37, 01-142 Warsaw, PolandNatural prodrugs extracted from plants are increasingly used in many sectors, including the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Among these prodrugs, essential oils (EOs) are of particular importance. These biologically active volatile oily liquids are produced by medicinal and aromatic plants and characterized by a distinctive odor. EOs possess high anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant potential but often are associated with low stability; high volatility; and a high risk of deterioration with exposure to heat, humidity, light, or oxygen. Furthermore, their bioavailability is limited because they are not soluble in water, and enhancements are needed to increase their potential to target specific cells or tissues, as well as for controlled release. Nanomedicine, the application of nanotechnology in medicine, may offer efficient solutions to these problems. The technology is based on creating nanostructures in which the natural prodrug is connected to or encapsulated in nanoparticles or submicron-sized capsules that ensure their solubility in water and their targeting properties, as well as controlled delivery. The potential of EOs as anticancer prodrugs is considerable but not fully exploited. This review focusses on the recent progress towards the practical application of EOs in cancer therapy based on nanotechnology applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/15/7/793cancerdelivery systemessential oilloading and controlled releasenanoformulationnanomedicine |
| spellingShingle | Khaled AbouAitah Witold Lojkowski Nanomedicine as an Emerging Technology to Foster Application of Essential Oils to Fight Cancer Pharmaceuticals cancer delivery system essential oil loading and controlled release nanoformulation nanomedicine |
| title | Nanomedicine as an Emerging Technology to Foster Application of Essential Oils to Fight Cancer |
| title_full | Nanomedicine as an Emerging Technology to Foster Application of Essential Oils to Fight Cancer |
| title_fullStr | Nanomedicine as an Emerging Technology to Foster Application of Essential Oils to Fight Cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nanomedicine as an Emerging Technology to Foster Application of Essential Oils to Fight Cancer |
| title_short | Nanomedicine as an Emerging Technology to Foster Application of Essential Oils to Fight Cancer |
| title_sort | nanomedicine as an emerging technology to foster application of essential oils to fight cancer |
| topic | cancer delivery system essential oil loading and controlled release nanoformulation nanomedicine |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/15/7/793 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT khaledabouaitah nanomedicineasanemergingtechnologytofosterapplicationofessentialoilstofightcancer AT witoldlojkowski nanomedicineasanemergingtechnologytofosterapplicationofessentialoilstofightcancer |