Linalool has been the subject matter of numerous studies investigating its anxiolytic (anti-stress) effects. Inhalation of Linalool, distilled from true essential oils, leads to decreased aggressive actions, lessens stress reaction, and improves sleep.

Now, in a study just published in the Journal of Chemico-biological Interactions, researchers at the American University of Beirut focused on a specific natural constituent of many common essential oils: Linalool. Linalool is the ‘sweetness’ of many oils used in aromatherapy; French Lavender essential oil contains the most linalool of any essential oil type, and it is found in varying amounts in a wide variety of plants. One of the chemotypes of Thyme essential oil is called c.t. (for ‘chemotype) linalool, meaning this particular variety of thyme has a high percentage of the linalool molecule.Linalool Appears to Kill Cancer Cells at a Very Low Concentration

In this study, linalool extracted from steam distilled Coriander oil was found to significantly lower the viability of the HepG2 cell line, cells of liver cancer used throughout the world for cancer research. Coriander was chosen as the spice is considered to have important medicinal qualities. Linalool inhibited these liver cancer cells from replicating. A concentration of 0.4 micromole inhibited 50% of the cells from replicating, a concentration of 2 micromol inhibited 100% of the cells from replicating, thereby destroying the cancer.

Now we don’t claim to be high-tech researchers The Ananda Apothecary but we did take a bit of chemistry in college. It appears this is an exceptionally small amount of linalool — 1 mole of Linalool is 154 grams. This appears to be .000308 grams of linalool per liter of solution the cell line was bathed in.

When one considers that many Lavender essential oils contain between 25 percent and forty percent linalool, this is pretty amazing. 25 drops of Lavender essential oil delivers in somewhere around .3 grams of linalool. This is easily absorbed when topically applied.

“A 50% and 100% decrease in the viability of HepG2 was obtained at 0.4muM and 2muM linalool (note: these are very small amounts of linalool in the solution), respectively…In addition, a time-dependent decrease in glutathione (GSH) level and in the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium was obtained, indicating increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In addition linalool increased ROS generation and decreased GSH level…Pretreatment with the antioxidants: N-acetyl cysteine (2mM), Trolox (100muM) and different flavonoids (50muM) was partially protective against the linalool-induced cell death…We hereby report a decrease in cell viability of HepG2 cells by linalool and identify the mitochondria as one possible target for its site of action, inhibiting complexes I and II and decreasing ATP.”

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