Introduction

The present invention concerns an essential oil (OE) of Cinnamomum zeylanicum particularly efficient in the adjuvant use for treatment of melanoma. The invention also concerns an association of that EO, as well as a specific pharmaceutical composition, and one or more anticancer drugs, comprising said specific EO or said association. This EO is able to unbalance the oxidative metabolism and the intracellular iron homeostasis in human metastatic melanoma cells.

Technical features

This patent demonstrates the anti-proliferative effect of a particular EO of C. zeylanicum on human metastatic melanoma cells, and not on healthy human cells. By administering a very low concentration of such EO (10 μg/ml), the melanoma proliferating cells are reduced by 50% in the first 24 hours and, if the administration is repeated at the end of the 24 hours, they die at 100%. The patent shows that this specific OE has blocked the cell cycle in the G2/M phase, depolarized the mitochondrial membrane, induced the production of intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), and increased the intracellular amount of metabolically active Iron (Fe2+). Through the Colony Forming Assay (CFA) we finally demonstrated that co-administration of OE with two drugs used in the clinical routine, such as Tamoxifen and Dabrafenib (used in the treatment of patients with melanomas caused by the BRAF V600 mutation), induces an enhancement of the cytotoxic effect in metastatic melanoma cells, compared to just treating drugs. TRL=4.

Possible Applications

• Phytocomplex (OE) in gastro-resistant capsules for patients with metastatic melanoma;
• Phytocomplex (OE formulated in lipid nanoparticles) in gastroresistant capsules for patients with metastatic melanoma;
• Phytocomplex (OE ) in creams and/or ointments on the skin of patients with metastatic melanoma.

Advantages

• Phytocomplex (OE) in gastro-resistant capsules for patients with metastatic melanoma;
• Phytocomplex (OE formulated in lipid nanoparticles) in gastroresistant capsules for patients with metastatic melanoma;
• Phytocomplex (OE ) in creams and/or ointments on the skin of patients with metastatic melanoma.