Review
Essential oil of lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) induces S-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 cells.
Yun-Fen Wang, Yang Zheng, Yin-Yue Cha, Yang Feng, Shao-Xing Dai, Sanjun Zhao + 2 more
ReviewJournal of ethnopharmacology2023
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Research Facts
Essential oil of lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) induces S-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 cells.
Yun-Fen Wang, Yang Zheng, Yin-Yue Cha, Yang Feng, Shao-Xing Dai, Sanjun Zhao + 2 more
Review · Moderate · 2023 · Journal of ethnopharmacology
Findings

Lemon myrtle essential oil showed cytotoxic activity against liver cancer cells in lab tests, with the strongest effect on HepG2 liver cancer cells (IC50: 40.90 μg/mL). The oil's main active component is citral (74.9% of the oil), which appears to trigger cancer cell death by stopping cell division and triggering apoptosis. However, this was tested in cells in a petri dish—not in humans or even animal models.

Design: Review
Evidence: Moderate
Journal: Journal of ethnopharmacology
Methodology

Researchers tested lemon myrtle essential oil against four different cancer cell lines using standard lab cytotoxicity assays. They identified the oil's chemical makeup and traced which cellular pathways were affected, primarily in liver cancer cells.

Funded By

Funding not disclosed in abstract