Sclareol (Scl)

Sclareol is a fragrant chemical compound found in clary sage (Salvia sclarea), from which it derives its name. It is classified as a bicyclic diterpene alcohol. It is an amber colored solid with a sweet, balsamic scent. Sclareol is used as a fragrance in cosmetics and perfumes and as flavoring in food. Sclareol and other similar substances may be prepared from sclareolide. Sclareol is also able to kill human leukemic cells and colon cancer cells by apoptosis. Labd-14-ene-8, 13-diol (sclareol) is a labdane-type diterpene, which has demonstrated significant cytotoxic activity against human leukemic cell lines, but its effect on solid tumor-derived cells is uknown. Addition of sclareol to cultures of human colon cancer HCT116 cells results in inhibition of DNA synthesis, arrest of cells at the G(1) phase of the cell cycle, activation of caspases-8, -9, PARP degradation, and DNA fragmentation, events characteristic of induction of apoptosis.