Phytochemical and pharmacological properties of essential oils from Cedrus species.

Nat Prod Res. 2017 Jul 3:1-13. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2017.1346648. [Epub ahead of print]

Saab AM1, Gambari R2, Sacchetti G2, Guerrini A2, Lampronti I2, Tacchini M2, El Samrani A3, Medawar S4, Makhlouf H3, Tannoury M3, Abboud J4, Diab-Assaf M1, Kijjoa A5, Tundis R6, Aoun J1, Efferth T7.

Author information

1

a Faculty of Science II, Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry , Lebanese University , Lebanon.

2

b Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology , University of Ferrara , Ferrara , Italy.

3

c Faculty of Science II, Department of Biology , Lebanese University , Beirut , Lebanon.

4

d Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Sciences , Lebanese University , Beirut , Lebanon.

5

e ICBAS-Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.

6

f Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Calabria , Rende , Italy.

7

g Department of Pharmaceutical Biology , Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University , Mainz , Germany.

Abstract

Natural products frequently exert pharmacological activities. The present review gives an overview of the ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the Cedrus genus, e.g. cytotoxic, spasmolytic immunomodulatory, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Cancer patients frequently seek remedies from traditional medicinal plants that are believed to exert less side effects than conventional therapy with synthetic drugs. A long-lasting goal of anti-cancer and anti-microbial therapy research is to find compounds with reduced side effects compared to currently approved drugs. In this respect, Cedrus species might be of interest. The essential oil isolated from Cedrus libani leaves may bear potential for drug development due to its high concentrations of germacrene D and β-caryophyllene. The essential oils from Cedrus species also show bioactivity against bacteria and viruses. More preclinical analyses (e.g. in vivo experiments) as well as clinical trials are required to evaluate the potential of essential oils from Cedrus species for drug development.

KEYWORDS:

Antiproliferative activity; Cedrus atlantica; Cedrus deodara; Cedrus libani; Pinaceae; essential oils; leukaemia cells

PMID:

 

28670915

 

DOI:

 

10.1080/14786419.2017.1346648