{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T04:24:08Z","timestamp":1789619048630,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"13","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,3]],"date-time":"2025-07-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1751500800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Molecules"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Skin cancer, including melanoma and non-melanoma cancers (basal and squamous cell carcinomas), is the most common type of cancer. UV radiation, family history, and genetic predisposition are the main risk factors. Although surgical excision is the standard treatment, essential oils are attracting growing interest for their anti-cancer effects. This study tested the effects of Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb. (Cupressaceae), Lavandula vera DC. (Lamiaceae), and Salvia fruticosa (Mill). (Lamiaceae) essential oils extracted from Middle Eastern medicinal plants on HaCaT (normal), A5 (benign), and II4 (low-grade malignant) keratinocytes. Essential oils were extracted from Juniperus excelsa, Lavandula vera, and Salvia libanotica using steam distillation and then were chemically analyzed. The oils were sterilized, dissolved in DMSO, and prepared at concentrations of 0.75, 0.5, and 0.25 mg\/mL. Human keratinocyte (HaCaT), benign (A5), and malignant (II4) cell lines were cultured in DMEM and treated with the essential oils for 24 or 48 h. Cell viability was assessed using the Trypan Blue Exclusion Test, while cell proliferation was evaluated using the MTT assay. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA with appropriate post hoc tests, considering p &lt; 0.05 as significant. The results show that J. excelsa is cytotoxic but lacks selectivity, limiting its efficacy. In contrast, L. vera and S. fruticosa preferentially target malignant cells, particularly at low concentrations, while sparing normal cells. These oils have dose-dependent anticancer effects, with L. vera efficacy increasing as the concentration increases. In conclusion, L. vera and S. fruticosa are promising candidates for the treatment of skin cancer, although further in vivo studies are required.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules30132844","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,3]],"date-time":"2025-07-03T04:07:17Z","timestamp":1751515637000},"page":"2844","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Cytotoxic Activity of Essential Oils from Middle Eastern Medicinal Plants on Malignant Keratinocytes"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"30","author":[{"given":"Rima","family":"Othman","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vanessa","family":"Moarbes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Balamand, Al-Kourah, Tripoli P.O. Box 100, Lebanon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Muriel Tahtouh","family":"Zaatar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, American University in Dubai, Dubai P.O. Box 28282, United Arab Emirates"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2740-1640","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Diane","family":"Antonios","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Damascus Road, Beirut P.O. Box 11-5076, Lebanon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4595-1104","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rabih","family":"Roufayel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila 54200, Kuwait"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marc","family":"Beyrouthy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agriculture and Food Engineering, School of Engineering, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Jounieh P.O. Box 446, Lebanon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6502-3110","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ziad","family":"Fajloun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cell Culture, Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology (LBA3B), Azm Center for Research in Biotechnology and Its Applications, EDST, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon"},{"name":"Faculty of Sciences 3, Lebanese University, Michel Slayman Tripoli Campus, Ras Maska 1352, Lebanon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9040-5647","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jean-Marc","family":"Sabatier","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Inst Neurophysiopathol (INP), CNRS, Aix-Marseille Universit\u00e9, 13385 Marseille, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marc","family":"Karam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Balamand, Al-Kourah, Tripoli P.O. Box 100, Lebanon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"160","DOI":"10.1016\/j.soncn.2013.06.002","article-title":"Skin Cancer: An Overview of Epidemiology and Risk Factors","volume":"29","author":"Gordon","year":"2013","journal-title":"Semin. Oncol. Nurs."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hyeraci, M., Papanikolau, E.S., Grimaldi, M., Ricci, F., Pallotta, S., Monetta, R., Minaf\u00f2, Y.A., Di Lella, G., Galdo, G., and Abeni, D. (2023). Systemic Photoprotection in Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer. Biomolecules, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/biom13071067"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clindermatol.2013.05.021","article-title":"Basic histological structure and functions of facial skin","volume":"32","author":"Arda","year":"2014","journal-title":"Clin. 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