Rosemary and its polyphenolic diterpene, carnosic acid, are known to possess antioxidant
activity and are used as a natural antioxidant food preservative. The intake of vegetables
and certain plant components has been reported to play a major role in promoting gastrointestinal
health. In the current study, the anticancer activity of rosemary extract and carnosic
acid was evaluated to understand the potential implications on gastrointestinal health.We
also evaluated the anti-cancer activity of rosemary extract in a nude mouse model. Rosemary
extract and carnosic acid, increased apoptosis, and decreased viability in colon cancer
cell lines. Rosemary extract and carnosic acid significantly upregulated the expression of
Nrf2 in colon cells and inhibited a HCT116 xenograft tumor formation in mice. These results
are especially significant as rosemary extract is increasingly being incorporated into food
products across the United States and Europe as a food preservative.