Cytotoxic Phytochemical library of Rosmarinus Officinalis

Globally, the prevalence of cancer has escalated at an alarming rate, and it has become a major health problem. The World Health Organization reported that one in six deaths is due to cancer. Despite the advantages of current chemotherapy available for cancer treatment, the development of resistance and severe side effects continuously insist cancer research focus on the discovery of new entities, especially from natural sources. In the last few decades, varieties of dietary herbs have been explored for their cytotoxic potential. Rosmarinus officinalis, a well-known culinary herb commonly known as rosemary, is not only used to enhance the flavour but also possesses medicinal values. The Rosmarinus officinalis plant extract and its essential oil are packed with different phenolic acids and terpenoids. Rosmarinus officinalis has anti-cancer, anti-proliferative, protective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties, according to several in vitro and in vivo studies. The antitumor activity of Rosmarinus officinalis is correlated with different molecular mechanisms such as reactive oxygen species scavenging, the on-co-suppressor gene expression, apoptosis, and immunomodulatory response regulation. So this chapter mainly focuses on the cytotoxic activities of Rosmarinus officinalis and the molecular mechanisms responsible for their anticancer activities. Also, possibilities of utilising the extracts, essential oils, and phytochemicals of Rosmarinus officinalis as potential therapeutic agents or complementary therapies with chemotherapeutic agents for cancer treatment have been discussed.