Objective: Natural compounds are used as a therapeutic strategy for diseases. Cedrol possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. This paper summarizes the protective properties of cedrol on various body systems including the nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems as well as its anti-tumor impacts.
Materials and methods: Information retrieval was done by tracking the electronic databases including Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science from the beginning of 2010 until the end of May 2026.
Results: Findings suggest that cedrol mainly exerts its protective impacts on body systems through inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway, reduction of inflammatory cytokines production and alleviation of oxidative stress. Evidence demonstrates that a part of neuroprotective effect of cedrol is mediated by enhancement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and estrogen receptor β (Erβ) activity. Upregulation of protective factors including nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and silent information regulator sirtuin 1 (SIRT 1) by cedrol can lead to ameliorate the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms. Decreased expression of myostatin, MuRF1, and FoxO3a and increase of intracellular calcium by cedrol also can prevent muscle atrophy. The antitumor mechanisms of cedrol include induction of apoptosis, stimulation of autophagy, suppression of cell cycle, prevention of angiogenesis, and inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K)/AKT/mTOR/ERK1/2 pathway.
Conclusion: Taken together, cedrol protects organs by modulation of immune system responses and prevention of overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as induction of anticancer effects through inhibiting cell proliferation and triggering apoptosis.