# Lemongrass Essential Oil Components with Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities
## 3 LEO Therapeutics
### Anticancer Activity
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Tissue**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**Cell Lines**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Lemongrass Essential Oil**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**References**} \\ \cline{3-4} \cline{5-5}  & & **Species** & & **IC\({}_{50}\) (\(\mu\)g/mL)** \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{colon} & HT-29 & C. _flexuosus_ & 42.4 & \\  & HCT-152 & C. _flexuosus_ & 60.2 & \\  & SW-620 & C. _flexuosus_ & 28.1 & \\  & 502713 & C. _flexuosus_ & 4.2 & \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{lung} & H-226 & C. _flexuosus_ & 61.4 & \\  & A-549 & C. _flexuosus_ & 49.7 & \\  & Hop-62 & C. _flexuosus_ & 79 & \\ \hline liver & Hep-2 & C. _flexuosus_ & 4.8 & \\ \hline cervix & SiHa & C. _flexuosus_ & 6.5 & \\ \hline prostate & DU-145 & C. _flexuosus_ & 41.5 & \\ \hline oral & KB & C. _flexuosus_ & 50.8 & \\ \hline neuroblastoma & IMR-32 & C. _flexuosus_ & 4.7 & \\ \hline lung & A549 & C. _citratus_ & 1.73 & \\  & H1975 & C. _citratus_ & 4.01 & [107] \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 4: Efficacy of essential oils obtained from different lemongrass species against various cancer cell lines. IC\({}_{50}\), half maximal inhibitory concentration. signalling by ALDH1A3 can cause breast cancer growth, and citral inhibited the expression of RA-inducible genes mediated by ALDH1A3 [119]. Microtubule affinity regulating kinase 4 (MARK4), an AMP-activated protein kinase [120], is reported to mediate apoptosis, inflammation, and distinct regulatory pathways [121]. Alterations in MARK4 expression hamper the cell cycle and eventually cause cancer. Citral potentially binds to MARK4 and inhibits its kinase activity, and is being considered an effective strategy to prevent the growth of cancer cells and other MARK4 associated diseases [122]. Citral has been reported inducing the phosphorylation of p53 protein and the expression of Bax, while reducing the expression of the antiapoptotic factors Bc-2 and Bcl-xL in human colorectal cancer lines, i.e., HT116 and HT29 [123]. Citral interferes with the ERK1/2 pathway and reduces the translocation of ERK1/2 protein to the nucleus. There is a certain possibility of the involvement of ERK1/2 in melanoma carcinogenesis and the progression in presence of mutated _N-Ras_ and _B-Raf_. Therefore, citral could negatively affect cancer growth by inhibiting the final step of the MAPK cascade [124]. Geraniol, the second major constituent of LEO, has garnered heed for its potentiality in cancer treatment. It has been reported that geraniol induces the production of ROS and inhibits the phosphorylation of tyrosine kinases, which, in turn, induce apoptosis of cancer cells [125]. Several studies have been conducted to gain insights into its anticancer activity [126; 127; 128]. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) plays a prime role in the synthesis of polyamines, providing stabilization to DNA structure [129]. A decrease in ODC activity after geraniol treatment has been observed in the intestinal adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cell line, which, in turn, caused DNA synthesis inhibition and cell cycle arrest in the S phase [129]. Polyamine metabolism is a potential target in the development of cancer-preventive drugs, therefore, geraniol mediated decline in ODC activity might have a useful clinical role [130]. Geraniol-induced inhibition of the proliferation of A453 and A549 human lung cancer cell lines has been reported. Geraniol alters the tubulin polymerization and disrupts the active property of both the studied cell lines, resulting in cell apoptosis. Geraniol arrested the G0/G1 phase in A431 cells, with no effects on sub-diploid cells, and the G2/M phase of A549 with the increased population of sub-diploid cells, in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effects of geraniol might be interrelated with the observed alteration in the ODC activity [131]. Geraniol caused inhibition of cell cycle progression, exerting altered expression of cyclins D1, A, B1, CDK2, and the cyclin kinase inhibitor proteins p21 and p27 [132].