Rosemary and Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is somewhat common in my family so I find this study particularly exciting!

Huang, M. T., Ho, C. T., Wang, Z. Y., Ferraro, T., Lou, Y. R., Stauber, K., Ma, W., Georgiadis, C., Laskin, J. D., and Conney, A. H. (1994) conducted a study to determine the effects of rosemary in inhibiting the formation of skin cancer tumors.  They determined that putting rosemary extract on the skin before application of a cancer-causing substance reduced the chanced of tumor formation. 

There were two different amounts they chose, 1.2 mg and 3.6 mg and they had 30% and 54% inhibition rates respectively. At the 9-week mark, after doing weekly applications, the 3.6 mg group was 62% inhibition, 63% at 13 weeks and 64% at the 21 week mark.  In another group, by the time they got to 19 weeks, the percentage was as high as 99% inhibition. Rosemary also reduced inflammation, reddening of the site where the carcinogen was introduced.

They did note although ursolic acid is an antioxidant, ursolic acid alone was not effective at preventing these tumors. Only female mice were used in this study.

Have a Great Day!

Huang, M. T., Ho, C. T., Wang, Z. Y., Ferraro, T., Lou, Y. R., Stauber, K., Ma, W., Georgiadis, C., Laskin, J. D., and Conney, A. H. (1994). Inhibition of Skin ilimorigenesis by Rosemary and Its Constituents Carnosol and Ursolic Acid. Cancer Research, 54; 701-708.