Mouse skin tumor promoting activity of orange peel oil and d-limonene: a re-evaluation

Orange peel oil has previously been shown to be a promoter of mouse skin tumors. It has been assumed that this activity is due to its major (95%) constituent, d-limonene. We have tested both orange peel oil and purified d-limonene as skin tumor promoters in a two-stage skin carcinogenesis model in which tumors were initiated with 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]-anthracene. We confirmed that topically applied orange peel oil is a very weak promoter of both skin papillomas and carcinomas. However, this promotional activity could not be accounted for by topically applied d-limonene. We thus feel that one or more minor components of orange peel oil has promotional activity. Neither orange peel oil nor d-limonene had promotional activity when given via the diet.