Geraniol

Geraniol is a monoterpene that is found within many essential oils of fruits, vegetables, and herbs including rose oil, citronella, lemongrass, lavender, and other aromatic plants. It is emitted from the flowers of many species of plant and is commonly used by the food, fragrance, and cosmetic industry^L3333. Geraniol has demonstrated a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective to name a few A34260,A34261,A34262. Interestingly, geraniol has also been shown to sensitize tumour cells to commonly used chemotherapies including DB00544 and DB01248 and represents a promising cancer chemopreventive agent ^A34263. Due to its anticancer effects, geraniol has been found to be effective against a broad range of cancers including breast, lung, colon, prostate, pancreatic, skin, liver, kidney and oral cancers ^A34262.

These pharmacologic effects are clinically important as geraniol is classified as generally-recognized-as-safe (GRAS) by the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States. Sensitivity to geraniol may be identified with a clinical patch test.