α-santalol, an active component of sandalwood oil, has
been studied for its skin cancer preventive efficacy in
murine models of skin carcinogenesis; employing human
epidermoid carcinoma A-431 cells It was assessed
whether α-santalol at concentrations of 25-75 μml
resulted in a concentrations and a time dependant
decrease in a cell number, which was largely due to cell
death. Mechanistic studies showed an involvement of
caspase-3 activation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase
cleavage & disruption of the mitochondrial membrane
potential and cytochrome-C release into the cytoso l,
thereby suggesting involvement of both caspase –
dependant and independent pathways.