Unravelling therapeutic potential and nano formulation approaches of farnesol, a bioactive sesquiterpene

Historically natural compounds and their structural equivalents have significantly contributed to pharmacotherapy. Sesquiterpenes, the C15-terpenoids are the source of many modern pharmaceuticals and therapeutic medications. These are mostly present in higher plants as well as other living systems including fungi and marine animals. They exist naturally as hydrocarbons or in oxygenated forms like lactones, alcohols, acids, aldehydes, and ketones. The sesquiterpene alcohol; farnesol isolated from plants like Cymbopogon nardus, Polianthes tuberosa and Cyclamen persicum is a promising biomolecule having immense pharmacological properties. Various studies have shown its potential as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardioprotective, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antianxiety, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, and anticancer agent. This review summarizes the importance of sesquiterpenes with special reference to pharmacological properties of farnesol, the design and development of its nano formulations such as a nanoparticle, nanogels, nanocomposites, etc., and their efficacy in in vivo and in vitro models.