Plant-derived essential oils in lung cancer: Anticancer mechanisms, experimental progress, and future perspectives

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It is characterized by a low survival rate and limited effective treatment. The conventional treatments for lung cancer include chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. However, due to factors such as drug resistance, the therapeutic effect of conventional treatment methods on lung cancer is significantly reduced. Plant-derived essential oils have attracted increasing research interest because of their reported anticancer activities and their origin from aromatic plants widely used in foods, beverages, and traditional health practices. This article reviews the basic characteristics of lung cancer, the definition of essential oils, the anti-cancer potential of essential oils, research progress and their anti-cancer mechanisms. Essential oils may exert anticancer effects through mechanisms including apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, suppression of migration and invasion, inhibition of angiogenesis, and modulation of key signalling pathways such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK/ERK. Although in vitro studies and a limited number of animal studies have demonstrated the anti-cancer effects of essential oils, current evidence remains largely preclinical, and challenges related to standardization, safety, bioavailability, and clinical translation remain significant. Future research should focus on improving standardization, optimizing delivery systems, evaluating safety profiles, and generating robust preclinical and clinical evidence to better define the therapeutic potential.