Published : 2025-02-27

Carnosic Acid in Carcinogenesis: From Theory to Practice

Magdalena Wojtczuk

Agnieszka Dominiak

Abstract

In light of the steadily increasing number of cancer diagnoses, there is a growing urgency to identify effective methods for prevention and anti-cancer therapy. Notably, approximately 50% of all clinical drugs are derived from natural sources, thus phytochemicals emerging as a promising options. One such candidate is carnosic acid, a phenolic diterpenoid compound richly found in rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.). Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the number of in vitro and in vivo studies on the biological activities of carnosic acid and its derivatives. Carnosic acid has been shown to enhance antioxidatant defense, inhibit the activity of proteolytic enzymes, block epithelial-mesenchymal transition and reduce cell adhesion and migration, as well as prevent tumor invasion and metastasis.  Finally, it promotes tumor cell death through apoptosis and autophagy. Its effectiveness as a chemopreventive, antiproliferative, and anti-invasive agent on human cell lines and syngeneic cancer models, coupled with its synergistic effects when used in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs, low cost, and relatively simple acquisition, underscores the potential of carnosic acid in cancer treatment. However, despite promising preclinical findings, clinical validation is still lacking. Several areas remain to be explored, such as the pharmacokinetics of CA in the human body, the need for dosage adjustments, and safe exposure durations. Before carnosic acid can be used in patients, a comprehensive safety assessment is essential, the individual metabolic profiles should be taken into account. While carnosic acid-containing functional foods seem to be a promising strategy  to reduce the global cancer burden, clinical trials using carnosic acid in oncology are still fully justified.

Keywords:

anticancer activity, cancer, carnosic acid, phytotherapy


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Wojtczuk, M., & Dominiak, A. (2025). Carnosic Acid in Carcinogenesis: From Theory to Practice. Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 23(1), 80–88. https://doi.org/10.56782/pps.329

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Editorial Team
Stefana Banacha 1
02-097 Warsaw, Poland
biuletynfarmacji@wum.edu.pl
Publisher:
Medical University of Warsaw
ul. Żwirki i Wigury 61
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