Monoterpenes with p-menthane structure (perillyl series) can inhibit Ras-proteins prenylation involved in carcinogenesis processes. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of perillyl alcohol (POH) and limonene to treat any type of human cancer, we conducted a systematic review of clinical studies found in seven biomedical bibliographic databases and four clinical trial registries. After screening titles, abstracts, and full texts for inclusion/exclusion criteria, one study on limonene (oral) and 19 on POH administered by oral (13), dermal (2), or intranasal-instillation routes (4), comprising phase I or I/II trials, were included in the review. The quality of included studies was assessed as well. No randomized and controlled phase-III trial was performed or is in progress. A critical appraisal of study results suggested that both compounds are safe after oral ingestion, dermal application, or nasal instillation. Overall, phase II studies showed no evidence of anticancer activity. Nasal instillation of POH, however, apparently prolonged the overall survival of patients with glioblastoma. Randomized and controlled (phase III) clinical studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Controlled release of anticancer drug 5-Fluorouracil by several delivery systems are known including porous polymeric materials. Herein we report a novel L-lysine based porous polyesterurethane material 1 which acts as a controlled release vehicle for 5-Fluorouracil. Polyesterurethane material 1 was synthesized from a green isocyanate and phosgene free synthetic route involving conversion of epoxide 2-(phenoxymethyl)oxirane and CO2 to cyclic carbonate 2 followed by ring opening with an amino acid L-Lysine to a bishydroxy compound 3 under green aqueous reaction condition. The bishydroxy compound 3 was subsequently reacted with 0.66 equivalent of trimesyl chloride in presence of triethyl amine to get the polyesterurethane material 1. The polyesterurethane material 1 was characterized via NMR, IR and MALDI analysis. From the SEM image of the polyesterurethane 1 and 5-Fluorouracil encapsulated polyesterurethane 1 it is evident that material 1 remain with porous topology which is filled by 5-Fluorouracil that is further evidenced by EDX spectroscopy with the presence of Fluorine. The controlled release of 5-Fluorouracil from the drug encapsulated 1 was monitored via UV visible spectroscopy at pH 7.4.