Iman A Hakim
The University of Arizona Health Sciences, USA
Title: Potential role of d-limonene in breast cancer prevention
Biography
Biography: Iman A Hakim
Abstract
Limonene is a bioactive food component found in high concentration in citrus peel oil. It has shown chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic activities in preclinical studies of mammary carcinogenesis. As a fat-soluble compound, d-limonene is more likely to deposit in fatty tissues such as the breast. In our previous work, we have found that lemonade prepared with the whole lemon (Mediterranean-style lemonade) contains high levels of d-limonene. To assess the bioavailability and disposition of d-limonene in humans, we conducted a pilot feeding study with d-limonene-rich lemonade. Healthy adults consumed 40oz of freshly prepared lemonade containing 500 to 600 mg d-limonene daily for 4 weeks. On the first and last consumption days, blood and buttock fat biopsy were collected. Matched plasma and fat biopsies were analyzed for d-limonene levels using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Our data showed that d-limonene and its major metabolite are bioavailable after oral consumption of a citrus preparation rich in d-limonene content. There was a significant increase in plasma and adipose d-limonene levels at the end of four weeks. However, adipose d-limonene levels were significantly higher than plasma levels (P=0.009). Our results confirmed the accumulation of d-limonene in adipose tissue after oral dosing in humans and support additional studies of d-limonene for chemoprevention in tissues such as the breast that are comprised of a significant fat fraction.