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Geraniol

Table of contents

Other Names

(2E)-3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol(2E)-3,7-Dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-ol(2E)-geraniol(E)-3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol(E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-ol(E)-geraniol(E)-Nerol2,6-DIMETHYL-2,6-OCTADIEN-8-OL2,6-Dimethyl-trans-2,6-octadien-8-ol2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (E)-2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, trans-3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol3,7-dimethyl-2E,6-octadien-1-ol3,7-Dimethyl-trans-2,6-octadien-1-ol3,7-Dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-olCitrolEINECS 203-377-1FEMA 2507Geraniol alcoholGeranyl alcoholGuaniolLemonolMeranolNSC 9279Rhodinolt-Geranioltrans-3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-oltrans-3,7-Dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-oltrans-Geraniolβ-Geraniol

Synopsis

Geraniol: A Comprehensive Reference Article

1. Identity and Chemical Profile

Chemical Names and Classification

Geraniol is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol. More precisely, as an acyclic monoterpenoid alcohol, it consists of a 10-carbon structure derived from two isoprene units, characterized by specific terpene architecture and a hydroxyl group. Its molecular formula is C₁₀H₁₈O, and its CAS number is 106-24-1. Geraniol (C₁₀H₁₈O) is a monoterpenoid alcohol belonging to the terpene family. Its structure includes a hydroxyl (–OH) group located at position 3 of a 10-carbon skeleton, and double bonds between specific carbon pairs.

Geraniol is a colorless oil, although commercial samples can appear yellow. It has low solubility in water, but is soluble in common organic solvents. With a rose-like scent, it is commonly used in perfumes and in scents such as peach, raspberry, grapefruit, red apple, plum, lime, orange, lemon, watermelon, pineapple, and blueberry. Its aroma is described as sweet, floral, fruity, rose, waxy, citrus, and citronella.

The name "geraniol" is derived from the genus Geranium, which historically included plants yielding oil rich in this compound. The chemical structure of geraniol was determined in 1919 by the French chemist Albert Verley (1867–1959).

Biosynthesis

Geraniol's biosynthesis in plants depends on precursors such as isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethylallyl diphosphate, originating from the mevalonate or non-mevalonate pathways. These pathways utilize basic building blocks like acetyl-CoA or pyruvate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate to construct the geranyl diphosphate intermediate. Geraniol is a substrate in the synthesis of other compounds of health-promoting importance, such as vitamins A and E.

Natural Sources

The presence of geraniol in nature has been reported in more than 160 essential oils, including ginger grass, lemongrass, Ceylon and Java citronella, tuberose, oak musk, orris, champaca, ylang-ylang, mace, nutmeg, sassafras, geranium, clary sage, lavender, jasmine, coriander, carrot, myrrh, eucalyptus, lime, mandarin petitgrain, bergamot, lemon, orange, and others. The essential oils of palmarosa and Cymbopogon winterianus contain the highest levels of geraniol, approximately 80 to 95%. Geraniol has also been reported in numerous food matrices: including apple juice, citrus peel oils and juices, bilberry, cranberry, guava, papaya, cinnamon, ginger, corn mint oil, mustard, nutmeg, mace, milk, coffee, tea, whiskey, honey, passion fruit, plums, mushrooms, mango, starfruit, cardamom, coriander leaf and seeds, litchi, Ocimum basilicum, myrtle leaf, rosemary, and chamomile oil.

Palmarosa oil is notable for having geraniol as its main constituent, often comprising up to 80% of the oil, which gives it a strong rose-like scent used as a cost-effective alternative to rose oil. Extracted from Cymbopogon martinii grass, it is steam-distilled and widely traded for fragrance applications. This high content makes palmarosa a preferred source for isolating pure geraniol.

Commercial Forms and Preparations

Geraniol is obtained by fractional distillation from Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt, extracting all impurities without any chemical means. Apart from natural sources, geraniol can also be produced synthetically or through bioconversion processes. Synthetic geraniol is often used as a cost-effective alternative in the fragrance and flavor industries. Additionally, bioconversion processes involving microorganisms can be employed to produce geraniol sustainably. The growing interest in geraniol has led to numerous reports on the use of biotechnological methods in the production of this compound. Researchers mainly use genetic engineering to modify microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Methanococcus maripaludis, or Saccharomyces cerevisiae in order to optimize geraniol production processes.

Geraniol is commercially available as an isolated monoterpene alcohol (typically ≥98% purity for research uses), as a component of natural essential oils (particularly palmarosa and rose), and increasingly in encapsulated nanoformulations designed to improve aqueous dispersibility. The lipophilic compound is a relatively good penetration enhancer and can be used to increase transdermal drug delivery. Encapsulation of the compound using different methods has circumvented problems associated with the dispersal of the non-polar entity within aqueous matrices, such as foods, to prevent spoilage.


2. Traditional and Historical Use

Geranium-Based Preparations

The Geranium genus consists of about 400 species, which have been utilized for a long time in ancient medical practices throughout the world. As a result, herbal medications based on these species are commonly utilized to treat a range of illnesses. Pelargonium graveolens (rose-scented geranium) plants have been used since ancient times in food, cosmetics, perfumery, traditional medicine, and the pharmaceutical industries due to the pleasant fragrance of the essential oil obtained from them.

Palmarosa and Citronella Traditions

The traditional use of geraniol-rich plants is closely associated with the aromatic grasses of the genus Cymbopogon. These grasses have deep roots in South and Southeast Asian botanical medicine, where preparations made from lemongrass, citronella, and palmarosa were employed for their fragrant, antimicrobial, and insect-repellent properties. For more than a century, geraniol, a monoterpene alcohol with a bright rose-like scent, has been a mainstay of cosmetics and fragrance.

Traditional Medicinal Applications of Geraniol-Rich Plants

A clinical correlation has been proposed between the ethnobotanical use of Rosa damascena and Pelargonium graveolens plants for treating flu and colds, and ACE2 inhibition, since the enzyme is highly implicated in upper respiratory viral infections. As geraniol is the major constituent of the essential oils of these plants, it is a reasonable target for the development of antiviral strategies.

Geraniol-containing essential oils, particularly rose oil and geranium oil, were historically employed across several traditions:

  • Perfumery and cosmetics: Geranium oil has been used historically in perfumery since the 19th century and continues to be prized for its natural expression of the rose facet and its versatility in both traditional and modern floral architecture.
  • Insect repellency: Geraniol's ability to repel insects has led to its use in natural mosquito repellents, providing an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic chemicals.
  • Tanning industry: Geranium species have historically been used as significant sources of tanning material in the leather industry due to the high tannin amount in their roots. This conventional method has been employed with at least two species: G. wallichianum and G. nepalense.

3. Key Constituents, Chemistry, and Mechanisms of Action

Geraniol as a Lead Phytochemical

Geraniol (GNL) is commonly used by the cosmetic and food industries and has shown a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and neuroprotective activities. Nowadays, the use of this compound as an antimicrobial agent, as a plant insect repellent, anti-inflammatory agent, and anthelmintic is documented. It should not be forgotten that geraniol is a substrate in the synthesis of other compounds of health-promoting importance, such as vitamins A and E.

Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms

GNL induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, modulates multiple molecular targets including p53 and STAT3, activates caspases, and modulates inflammation via transcriptional regulation. Specifically, GNL inhibits inflammation by blocking NF-κB. Geraniol diminishes the levels of inflammatory markers induced by pamidronate stimuli in vitro and in vivo, and also promotes inhibitory effects on nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production in macrophages.

Anticancer Mechanisms

There are several different anticancer mechanisms, including the inhibition of proliferation, the induction of cell cycle arrest, the induction of apoptosis, synergy with conventional medicines, and ROS generation. Additionally, GNL can attenuate the toxicity associated with conventional medicines.

A key target is the mevalonate pathway: geraniol inhibits the activity of liver 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-CoA), an enzyme known primarily for its participation in the biosynthesis of cholesterol in mammals, which also participates in the cell cycle. Therefore, its inhibitors stop the cell cycle between the G1 and S phases, so they can potentially have an anticancer effect.

Geraniol is an acyclic monoterpene alcohol found in the ethereal oils of aromatic plants, and has been shown to exert a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antitumor, and other activities. Close attention has been paid to geraniol due to its potential role in the treatment of a variety of diseases, such as chronic or allergic rhinitis and lung cancer.

Network pharmacology research showed that geraniol has superb druggability with 38 putative identified target genes. GO, KEGG, and network analyses revealed that these targets were associated with cancer, inflammatory immunoreactions, and other physiological processes.

Antioxidant Mechanisms

GNL scavenges free radicals and preserves the activity of antioxidant enzymes. GNL enhances antioxidant enzymes and inhibits inflammatory proteins.

Antimicrobial Mechanisms

Geraniol demonstrates a broad spectrum of antibacterial and antifungal activity, with the highest susceptibility observed for Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Streptococcus agalactiae. In contrast, Enterococcus spp., MRSA, and MRSE exhibited moderate or limited sensitivity, which may reflect defense mechanisms such as efflux pumps and thicker cell walls. Geraniol also showed significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans and C. glabrata, including strains resistant to conventional antifungal agents. Importantly, geraniol maintained antimicrobial efficacy across a wide concentration range (0.5–12%) and in different culture media.

Neuroprotective Mechanisms

Geraniol demonstrates neuroprotective effects against neuronal damage and neurodegenerative diseases by attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. It modulates various neurotransmitter systems and signaling pathways implicated in neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity, such as the Nrf2/ARE pathway and the BDNF/TrkB pathway.

Penetration Enhancement

Geraniol can enhance the penetration of drugs through the skin, making it a valuable component in transdermal drug delivery systems.


4. Scientific Evidence by Area of Use

4.1 Anticancer Activity

Geraniol represents a promising cancer chemopreventive agent, as it has been found to be effective against a broad range of cancers, including colon, prostate, breast, lung, skin, kidney, liver, and pancreatic cancer. However, the vast majority of this evidence derives from in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo (animal model) studies; clinical trials in humans are essentially absent as of current literature.

Colorectal Cancer

The most extensively studied area is colorectal cancer. A preclinical study using the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2 found that geraniol at 400 µM prevented the formation of brush-border membranes and inhibited the expression of intestinal hydrolases (sucrase, lactase, alkaline phosphatase). The antiproliferative effect of geraniol (400 µM) together with 5-FU (5 µM) was twice that of 5-FU alone. The cytotoxicity induced by 5-FU was enhanced in the presence of geraniol, as shown by a 50% increase of lactate dehydrogenase release in the culture medium. These effects are related to enhanced intracellular accumulation of 5-FU in the presence of geraniol, as shown by a 2-fold increase in intracellular 5-[6-³H]FU.

An in vivo mouse xenograft study extended these findings: the study investigated on colon cancer cells the effect of geraniol on thymidylate synthase and thymidine kinase expression, two enzymes related to 5-fluorouracil cytotoxicity. The anti-tumoral efficacy of geraniol and 5-fluorouracil were also evaluated on TC-118 human tumors transplanted in Swiss nu/nu mice. Geraniol (150 µM) but not 5-fluorouracil caused a 2-fold reduction of thymidylate synthase and thymidine kinase expression in cancer cells. In nude mice, the combined administration of 5-fluorouracil (20 mg/kg) and geraniol (150 mg/kg) caused a 53% reduction of the tumor volume, whereas a 26% reduction was obtained with geraniol alone, and 5-fluorouracil alone showed no effect. Evidence grade: Preclinical only (in vitro/animal). No human clinical trial data available.

Lung and Skin Carcinoma

Geraniol possesses potent antiproliferative and antitumor effects ascribed to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. One study found that geraniol inhibits the proliferation of PC-3 (prostate), A431 (skin), and A549 (lung) cells (~50%) and suppresses the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (15.42 ± 0.61 µM) and hyaluronidase (57.61 ± 8.53 µM) in A549 cells; and LOX-5 (25.44 ± 3.50 µM) and hyaluronidase (90.71 ± 2.38 µM) in A431 cells. In an Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma model, geraniol inhibited tumor growth by 50.08% at 75 mg/kg bw and was found to be safe up to 1,000 mg/kg bw in a toxicity study. Evidence grade: Preclinical (in vitro and in vivo animal models). No human data.

Multiple Cancer Types — Mechanistic Overview

Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have shown the activity of geraniol against prostate, bowel, liver, kidney, and skin cancer. It can induce apoptosis and increase the expression of proapoptotic proteins. The synergy of geraniol with other drugs may further increase the range of chemotherapeutic agents. A study showed that the combination of simvastatin and geraniol synergistically inhibits cholesterol biosynthesis and the proliferation of the same cell line. However, it was also found that low concentrations of simvastatin or geraniol did not inhibit cholesterol synthesis when used separately, but were effective when used in combination.

Although a large body of evidence indicates potent antimicrobial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities accompanied by low toxicity and high efficacy, there is a glaring lack of clinical trials investigating these effects.

4.2 Antimicrobial Activity

The antibacterial activity of geraniol was also observed on respiratory pathogens, skin, and food-derived strains. A 2025 review focusing specifically on antibacterial and anticancer properties documented that geraniol demonstrates a broad spectrum of antibacterial and antifungal activity, with the highest susceptibility observed for Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Streptococcus agalactiae. Enterococcus spp., MRSA, and MRSE exhibited moderate or limited sensitivity. Geraniol also showed significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans and C. glabrata, including strains resistant to conventional antifungal agents, maintaining efficacy across a wide concentration range (0.5–12%). Evidence grade: Predominantly in vitro microbiological data. Robust clinical trials are lacking.

4.3 Anti-Inflammatory Activity

A network pharmacology study identified an inflammatory role for geraniol in allergic rhinitis. The primary demonstrated mechanisms include NF-κB pathway inhibition and suppression of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production, as well as reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. All published data establishing these pathways originate from in vitro cell studies and animal models. Evidence grade: Preclinical. No controlled human trials are currently available.

4.4 Neuroprotective and Neurological Effects

Geraniol has shown neuroprotective effects in preclinical studies, protecting neurons from oxidative stress, inflammation, and excitotoxicity. These properties hold promise for the management of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of geraniol suppress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and ROS in a model of Parkinson's disease.

A 2022 review compiled 87 studies on geraniol and neurological disorders (from databases searched from 1981–2021): online databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus were searched using Mesh words covering geraniol, neurological disorders, epilepsy, spinal cord injury, Parkinson's disease, and depression. A total of 87 studies were included in this review. Geraniol, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects, can improve the symptoms and reduce the progression of neurological diseases. Areas reviewed included epilepsy, spinal cord injury, depression, and Parkinson's disease.

In the context of Alzheimer's disease, geraniol is a well-known extract from essential oils of aromatic plants and has been shown to have outstanding neuroprotective effects as well as an ameliorating influence on memory impairment. Research has aimed to elucidate the potential of geraniol against Alzheimer's disease using network pharmacology approaches combined with molecular modeling. Geraniol diminishes learning and memory impairment, leading to the prevention of cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity in rats. Evidence grade: Preclinical (primarily rodent models). No human clinical trial data have been reported.

4.5 Insect Repellency

The volatile nature of geraniol lends itself to applications such as postharvest fumigation of grain crops to protect against invading insects and mycotoxin-producing fungi, and as a mosquito repellent. The bulk of published literature is related to geraniol as a repellent rather than an insecticide, and a significant portion of the repellency studies have been conducted on mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of several medically important diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and Chikungunya, as well as encephalitis (West Nile virus) or filariasis. One study on effectiveness of geraniol, linalool, and citronella as botanical mosquito repellents concluded that geraniol exhibited significantly greater repellent activity than citronella or linalool against 4 mosquito species, both indoors and outdoors. Repellency testing has also been conducted on lice, ticks, fungus, horn flies, and white flies. Evidence grade: Several repellency studies exist, including comparative laboratory and field-based designs, supporting efficacy against multiple insect species. This is one of the better-supported application areas.

4.6 Hepatoprotective and Cardioprotective Effects

Geraniol is proven to exhibit various biological activities, including antitumour, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective and neuroprotective effects. Published studies on organ protection have involved kidney protection pathways, for example through the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 and MAPK/NF-κB pathways in models of drug-induced injury. Evidence grade: Animal model data only. No clinical trials have investigated these endpoints.

4.7 Transdermal Drug Delivery Enhancement

The effect of geraniol as a penetration enhancer for transdermal drug delivery has attracted the attention of researchers and formulation scientists. Geraniol is an attractive compound for drug use, due to the various potential routes of administration. Other than transdermal and oral administration, transport across nasal mucosa is ideal to achieve CNS effects, while inhalation offers direct exposure of lung tissue. Evidence grade: This is primarily a pharmacokinetic/formulation research area; applications remain at laboratory and early development stage.


5. Body Systems Associated with Geraniol Research

  • Gastrointestinal / Oncology: Colon and colorectal cancer research; modulation of cell differentiation and drug uptake in human colon cell lines.
  • Respiratory: Lung cancer (preclinical); potential activity in allergic rhinitis models.
  • Immune / Inflammatory: Inhibition of NF-κB, suppression of prostaglandin E2 and nitric oxide, downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines across multiple cell and animal models.
  • Central Nervous System: Neuroprotection in models of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, depression, spinal cord injury, and cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity.
  • Dermatological: Skin cancer cell line research (A431); antimicrobial and antifungal activity relevant to skin pathogens.
  • Hepatic: Hepatoprotective effects demonstrated in animal models.
  • Cardiovascular: Cardioprotective effects described in preclinical literature; HMG-CoA reductase inhibition relevant to cholesterol metabolism.
  • Integumentary / Drug Delivery: Skin penetration enhancement relevant to transdermal pharmaceutical formulation.

6. Dosage Forms and Doses Reported in Studies

No established clinical dose exists for geraniol as a standalone supplement, as it has not progressed to approved pharmaceutical status. The following doses were reported in specific research contexts:

  • In vitro (cell culture, colon cancer): Geraniol at 400 µM was used in Caco-2 cell studies, where its antiproliferative effect combined with 5-FU (5 µM) was twice that of 5-FU alone.
  • In vitro (colon cancer — DNA synthesis): Geraniol at 150 µM caused a 2-fold reduction of thymidylate synthase and thymidine kinase expression in cancer cells.
  • In vivo (murine xenograft — colon tumor): In nude mice, the combined administration of 5-fluorouracil (20 mg/kg) and geraniol (150 mg/kg) caused a 53% reduction of the tumor volume, whereas a 26% reduction was obtained with geraniol alone.
  • In vivo (murine carcinoma model): In an Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma model, geraniol inhibited tumor growth by 50.08% at 75 mg/kg bw and was found to be safe up to 1,000 mg/kg bw in a toxicity study.
  • Fragrance/cosmetic use — sensitization threshold: Geraniol was assigned a No Expected Sensitization Induction Level (NESIL) of 11,000 µg/cm² for the skin sensitization endpoint.
  • Respiratory exposure threshold: The local respiratory toxicity endpoint was evaluated using the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) for a Cramer Class I material, and the exposure to geraniol is below the TTC (1.4 mg/day).

7. Safety Considerations and Regulatory Status

General Safety and GRAS Status

Geraniol is considered generally safe and is included on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) list of flavoring substances that are Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS). The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) Expert Panel has reviewed the safety of geraniol and determined that it is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for use as a flavoring substance.

Skin Sensitization and Contact Allergy

Geraniol is one of 26 scent compounds recognized as contact allergens by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) owing to its skin-sensitizing effects. Geraniol can potentially cause sensitization, so the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) restricts its use in fragrances. This restriction applies particularly to leave-on skin products and products that are rinsed off the skin.

The European Cosmetics Regulation requires manufacturers to indicate the presence of geraniol in the list of ingredients when its concentration exceeds 0.001% in leave-on-the-skin products and 0.01% in products that are rinsed off the skin. Both eugenol and geraniol have been included in the 51st IFRA Amendment, resulting in stricter limits on their use in various consumer products. These changes aim to increase consumer safety by reducing the risk of contact allergies and other adverse reactions associated with these ingredients.

Phototoxicity and Environmental Profile

Phototoxicity/photoallergenicity endpoints were evaluated based on ultraviolet/visible (UV/Vis) spectra; geraniol is not expected to be phototoxic/photoallergenic. Geraniol was found not to be Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) as per the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) Environmental Standards, and its risk quotients, based on its current volume of use in Europe and North America (PEC/PNEC), are less than 1.

Autoxidation and Regulatory Labeling (EU)

Geraniol is one of 26 scent compounds recognized as contact allergens by the SCCS owing to its skin-sensitizing effects. Geraniol is susceptible to autoxidation. This autoxidation can generate oxidized derivatives that are more potent allergens than the parent compound, which is a key reason for regulatory concentration limits in cosmetic products.

Biocidal Regulatory Classification

The Biocide Regulation 528/2012 (which aims to regulate the placing on the European market of biocidal products including insecticides and repellents) classifies geraniol in TP19: Repellent; and not in TP18: Insecticide.

Overall Toxicological Profile

In addition to its pleasant odour, geraniol is known to exhibit insecticidal and repellent properties and is used as a natural pest control agent exhibiting low toxicity. It has low cancer, low developmental and reproductive toxicity, and low use restrictions. Its potential interactions with other biologically active substances require further research, since there are indications that these interactions may reduce toxicity and affect its biological activity. Although a large body of evidence indicates potent antimicrobial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities accompanied by low toxicity and high efficacy, there is a glaring lack of clinical trials investigating these effects. Prior to such clinical trials, more research is needed to ensure the absence of toxic effects.


8. Current State of Evidence and Research Gaps

Although many publications have been published about geraniol's anticancer activity, the mechanism of GNL molecular activity has still not been fully explained. The research area aims to extend previous findings by providing an updated overview of the literature on the potential effects of GNL on cancer and inflammation-related diseases, specifically focusing on experimental study findings that enhance understanding of molecular targets and pathways.

Overall, findings show that GNL modulates molecular targets and pathways to trigger apoptosis in cancer cells. GNL is rapidly moving into clinical trials, so these targets could be exploited for therapeutic purposes in future.

The sedative and anti-seizure effects of geraniol on the CNS should also be further investigated using useful pre-clinical platforms. Geraniol is an attractive compound for drug use, due to the various potential routes of administration. Other than transdermal and oral administration, transport across nasal mucosa is ideal to achieve CNS effects, while inhalation offers the direct exposure of lung tissue. Once the safety of the compound has been established, inhalation could be investigated as a potential route of administration in clinical trials.

In summary, geraniol is a well-characterized natural monoterpene alcohol with a rich and diverse pharmacological profile supported by a large body of preclinical (in vitro and animal model) research. Its GRAS status confirms safety for use as a food flavoring. However, the translation of its anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective properties into validated clinical applications requires rigorously designed human clinical trials, the majority of which are not yet available in the public literature.

References

Health Conditions

Health conditions that Geraniol may help support.

  • No conditions available.

Body Systems

Body systems that Geraniol may help support.

  • No body systems available.
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