Clinical Applications
Because it is a solvent of cholesterol, d-limonene
has been clinically used to dissolve cholesterol-containing
gallstones. It has also been used to relieve heartburn,
because of its potential for gastric acid neutralization
and its support for healthy peristalsis. D-limonene has
well-established chemopreventive activity against many
types of cancers. Evidence from a phase I clinical trial
shows a partial response in a patient with breast cancer
and stable disease for more than six months in three patients
with colorectal cancer. (Table 1)