Researches on the anti-glioma mechanism of volatile oil from traditional Chinese medicines and nano-preparation applications

Gliomas are the most common primary tumors in the central nervous system. However, the efficacy of first-line treatments for glioma is hindered by the blood brain barrier (BBB), making it difficult to reach an effective dose at the tumor site. The volatile oil from traditional Chinese medicine have the advantages of high fat solubility and ability to penetrate the blood brain barrier, has demonstrated promising inhibitory effects on glioma. The volatile oil components of traditional Chinese medicine can improve the anti-glioma efficacy by promoting the entry of chemotherapeutic drugs into the brain, inhibiting the exocytosis of drugs within the brain and synergizing with chemical drug therapy. However, the stability of volatile oil is poor, nano-formulations including liposomes, nanoparticles, and self-assembled prodrug delivery systems, can improve their stability and exert the therapeutic efficacy. As an effective drug for the treatment of glioma, volatile oil from traditional Chinese medicine shows good prospects for application. This review summarizes the mechanisms of action of volatile oil from traditional Chinese medicine and their main components against glioma, and the research progress of volatile oil combined with chemotherapeutic drugs or designed as nano-drug delivery systems for glioma therapy, with a view to providing reference for the application of volatile oil from traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of glioma.