title: Geraniol, a component of plant essential oils, inhibits growth and polyamine biosynthesis in human colon cancer cells.
abstract: Geraniol and other monoterpenes found in essential oils of fruits and herbs have been suggested to represent a new class of agents for cancer chemoprevention. As a first step in clarifying the mode of action of geraniol on colon carcinogenesis, we studied its effects on the growth of a human colon cancer cell line (Caco-2). Geraniol (400 microM) caused a 70% inhibition of cell growth, with cells accumulating in the S transition phase of the cell cycle, and concomitant inhibition of DNA synthesis. No signs of cytotoxicity or apoptosis were detected. Geraniol caused a 50% decrease of ornithine decarboxylase activity, a key enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, which is enhanced in cancer growth. This led to a 40% reduction of the intracellular pool of putrescine. Geraniol also activated the intracellular catabolism of polyamines, indicated by enhanced polyamine acetylation. These observations indicate that polyamine metabolism is presumably a target in the antiproliferative properties of geraniol.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nutritional Chemoprevention in Digestive Oncology, Institut de Recherche contre les Cancers de l'Appareil Digestif, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carnesecchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ceraline
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Duranton
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gosse
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seiler
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raul
mesh_terms: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015317:Biogenic Polyamines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018938:Caco-2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D015317:Biogenic Polyamines; D010938:Plant Oils; D013729:Terpenes; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase; C007836:geraniol