Background: Essential oils (EOs) are aromatic, volatile and concentrated hydrophobic liquids extracted from plant material. EOs are also called as ethereal oils, volatile oils or aetherolea. EOs also play a crucial role in plant defence and signalling processes. They are mostly used in perfumes, cosmetics, soaps and other products for flavouring food, drinks, adding scents to incense and household cleaning products. EOs have a long medicinal history. Methods: Reported research literature and online contents related to the use of EOs for their biochemical pharmacological applications in cancer prevention therapy were reviewed. The most relevant and updated citations were included in this review. Results: This review elaborates the various types of EOs, their biochemical characteristics, and pharmacology. Medicinal benefits of essential oil products range from various skin treatments to different types of therapies for cancer and are dependent entirely on historical backgrounds of use of EOs for these properties. EOs have antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, antiparasitical, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, viricidal, fungicidal, wound healing, antihypertensive, analgesic properties and other medicinal properties. The efficiency of EOs in medical treatments and treatment of cancers are these days a subject of interest in most countries. Conclusion: This review elaborated the potentials of EOs in regulating cancer cell growth and have explored the probable EOs that can be used in drug development.

Environmental toxicants like microcystins are known to adversely impact liver physiology and lead to the increased risk for abnormal liver function and even liver carcinoma. Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is reported for various properties mainly antibacterial, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. This study was aimed to assess the effect microcystin (MC-LR) on histopathology of liver in mice and a preventive measure by using aqueous extract of Inonotus obliquus (IOAE). Adult Balb/c mice were administered with MC-LR at 20 ​μg/kg body weight, per day, intraperitoneal (i.p.) for 4 weeks. IOAE was treated to one group of MC-LR mice at 200 ​mg/kg body weight, per oral, for 4 weeks. Histological staining for liver structural details and biochemical assays for functions were assessed. The results of the study showed that MC-LR drastically reduced the body weight of mice which were restored close to the range of control by IOAE treatment. MC-LR exposed mice showed 1.9, 1.7 and 2.2-fold increase in the levels of SGOT, SGPT and LDH which were restored by IOAE treatment as compared to control (one-fold). MC-LR exposed mice showed reduced level of GSH (19.83 ​± ​3.3 ​μM) which were regained by IOAE treatment (50.83 ​± ​3.0 ​μM). Similar observations were noted for catalase activity. Histological examinations show that MC-LR exposed degenerative changes in the liver sections which were restored by IOAE supplementation. The immunofluorescence analysis of caspase-3 counterstained with DAPI showed that MC-LR led to the increased expression of caspase-3 which were comparatively reduced by IOAE treatment. The cell viability decreased on increasing the concentration of MC-LR with 5% cell viability at concentration of 10 ​μg MC-LR/mL as that of control 100% Cell viability. The IC₅₀ was calculated to be 3.6 ​μg/ml, indicating that MC-LR is chronic toxic to AML12 mouse hepatocytes. The molecular docking interaction of NF-κB-NIK with ergosterol peroxidase showed binding interaction between the two and showed the plausible molecular basis for the effects of IOAE in MC-LR induced liver injury. Collectively, this study revealed the deleterious effects of MC-LR on liver through generation of oxidative stress and activation of caspase-3, which were prevented by treatment with IOAE.

Background: Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is an edible macrofungus used in traditional and folk medicine for the treatment of various gastrointestinal disorders. It has shown potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer effects in several experimental studies, including anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects in colorectal cancer and intestinal inflammation. Whole extract or purified compound ergosterol peroxide from chaga mushroom showed anti-inflammatory mechanism via suppression of NF-κB/iNOS-COX-2 and growth inhibitory mechanism via regulation of apoptosis activation and β-catenin suppression. The diverse inflammatory and carcinogenic agents, like carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), a potent hepatotoxic chemical, cause liver damage by inducing lipid peroxidation and other oxidative damages. Aims: The study aimed to analyze the biochemical, cellular and molecular mechanisms of CCl4 induced chronic liver inflammation and carcinoma, and to analyze the effect of the extract of chaga mushroom on liver inflammation and cancer by virtue of anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Method: Physiological, histological and immunohistochemical analyses of the physiological functions and cellular functions were performed. Biochemical assays were conducted for assessing enzymatic changes in tissues. Molecular simulation and docking studies were performed for the evaluation of the molecular interaction. Results: CCl₄-exposed mice exhibited a significant decrease in body weight followed by altered histopathological signatures in the liver. Supplementation of IOAE showed that treatment restored the normal structure of the tissues with large round nuclei in most of the cells. CCl₄ caused a steep elevation in the levels of SGOT and SGPT to 2.32- and 1.8-fold as compared to control. The LDH level increased to 447 IU/L in CCl₄ treated mice as compared to control (236 IU/L). Analysis of the oxidant enzyme pathway showed that CCl₄ reduced the GSH level to 16.5 μM as compared to control (52 μM), and induced the catalase enzyme activity up to 259 U/mL as compared to control (124 U/L). These physiological and biochemical alterations were restored towards normal levels by IOAE administration. Immunohistochemical staining for caspase-3 and p53 showed that CCl₄ notably increased their expressions, which were subsequently suppressed by administration of IOAE. The molecular simulation and docking studies using ergosterol peroxide from chaga mushroom with iNOS, COX-2 and TNF-α showed binding energy of -10.5, -8.9 and -9.1 Kcal/mol, respectively. These proteins interacting with ergosterol peroxide exerted an inhibitory effect on these critical proinflammatory signaling proteins. Conclusions: The results point out that IOAE is able to prevent damage of hepatic cells caused by CCl₄ in mouse models through anti-inflammatory and growth inhibitory mechanisms, which can be utilized for natural prevention of liver toxicity.