BioMed Research International

Review Article

Essential Oils and Their Constituents as Anticancer Agents: A Mechanistic View

Table 1

Chemical classification, general formula, and structure of EO constituents with examples.
ComponentGeneral formulaGeneral structureExample
Terpene hydrocarbons
MonoterpeneC10H16154106.table.001aLimonene, -Pinene, -Myrcene
SesquiterpenesC15H24154106.table.001bCaryophyllene, Humulene, -Farnesene
DiterpeneC20H32154106.table.001cCembrene C, Kaurene, Camphorene
Oxygenated terpenes
Oxygenated monoterpeneC10H16O154106.table.001dCamphor, Carveol, Limonene oxide
Oxygenated SesquiterpenesC15H24O154106.table.001eCaryophyllene oxide, Humulene epoxide, α-Bisabolene oxide
Other oxygenated compounds
PhenolsRC6H5OH154106.table.001fCatechol, Eugenol
Simple alcohols R-OHR-OHIsopropyl alcohol, Butyl alcohol
Monoterpene alcoholsC10H17OH154106.table.001gGeraniol, Nerol, Eucalyptol
Sesquiterpenes
alcohols		C15H25OH154106.table.001hFarnesol, Nerolidol
KetonesRC(=O)R′154106.table.001iAcetophenone, Benzophenone
EstersRCO2R′154106.table.001jBornyl acetate, Ethyl acetate
Lactones and coumarins C3H6O3 (Lactones)154106.table.001kVernolide, Helenin
C9H6O2  (Coumarins)154106.table.001lFumarin, Benzofuran