Sandalwood Oil Extract is Effective Against Mouse Prostate Cancer

A recent investigation revealed that in laboratory mice with prostate cancer, a substance derived from sandalwood oil demonstrated efficacy in delaying the initiation and progression of tumors, leading to cellular demise. Subsequent studies will investigate the potential of this extract for prostate cancer treatment in humans.

Though advancements in detecting and treating prostate cancer have enhanced patient outcomes, conventional therapies like radiotherapy and chemotherapy may prove inadequate for advanced stages of the illness. Hence, there’s a growing need to explore alternative treatment options. Scientists from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine have delved into nature in pursuit of such alternatives, examining the potential efficacy of a sandalwood oil extract against prostate cancer.

Addressing the Urgent Need for Targeted Cancer Therapies

Ajay Bommareddy, the lead and corresponding author of the study, emphasized the urgent need for identifying agents capable of selectively targeting cancerous cells and retarding the onset and advancement of prostate cancer.

For centuries, sandalwood oil extracted from the Santalum album, or Indian sandalwood tree, has been globally recognized for its medicinal properties and health benefits. The primary constituent of the oil is santalol, a blend of alpha- and beta-santalol. Previous research, including studies conducted by FAU researchers, has highlighted the effectiveness of alpha-santalol in inhibiting the proliferation of human cancer cells and triggering programmed cell death, known as apoptosis.

Following the isolation of 95% pure alpha-santalol from sandalwood oil, the researchers administered it via intraperitoneal injection to mouse models of prostate cancer, while control mice received a saline solution. The mice’s body weights were monitored weekly,

and after 20 weeks of treatment, their vital organs were collected and weighed. Analysis was conducted on a portion of the prostate tumor tissues from both the treatment and control groups.

Effectiveness of Alpha-Santalol in Prostate Tumor Reduction and Well-Toleration

The study revealed that there was no significant difference in body weight between the treatment and control groups, indicating that alpha-santalol was well-tolerated. In comparison to the control group, the extract notably decreased the occurrence of visible prostate tumors. Only one out of the nine mice (11%) in the treated group developed tumors, whereas five out of nine (56%) control mice did. Additionally, the average wet weight of the prostate glands in the treated mice was 52.9% lower than that of untreated mice.

Furthermore, when assessing the area occupied by healthy tissue in the alpha-santalol-treated mice, it was found to be 53% compared to 12% in control mice. This suggested that the extract safeguarded healthy tissue and delayed the progression from prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), a pre-cancerous condition characterized by abnormal prostate cells, to poorly differentiated carcinoma, a high-grade form of cancer where cells exhibit significant abnormalities.

To conclude, these findings hold significance, according to the researchers, as mortality from prostate cancer primarily stems from advanced stages of the disease.

In treated mice, the expression of Ki-67, a widely recognized prognostic marker indicating tumor cell proliferation and growth, was reduced by 74.42% compared to controls. Additionally, there was a higher presence of apoptotic cells, indicating cell death, in animals treated with alpha-santalol.

Ajay Bommareddy emphasized the importance of in vivo models in the development of novel chemo-preventive agents for clinical application and to ascertain whether alpha-santalol provides protection against prostate cancer development. He noted that prior to this study, the in vivo efficacy of alpha-santalol against prostate cancer had not been established.

Further investigation is necessary to determine the potential of alpha-santalol as an anti-tumor agent in prostate cancer treatment.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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