Quinones

Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), a redox co-factor, is an anionic, redox-cycling orthoquinone. Pyrroloquinoline quinone is isolated from cultures of methylotropic bacteria and tissues of mammals. Pyrroloquinoline quinone is an essential nutrient for mammals and is important for immune function.

Ubiquinone-1 is an intermediate in the synthesis of Coenzyme Q. Ubiquinone-1 can be reduced by NADPH oxidase, hepatoma cells, Ascorbic acid (HY-B0166).

Daunorubicin (Daunomycin) is a topoisomerase II inhibitor with potent anti-tumor activity. Daunorubicin inhibits DNA and RNA synthesis. Daunorubicin is a cytotoxin that inhibits cancer cell viability and induces apoptosis and necrosis. Daunorubicin is also an anthracycline antibiotic. Daunorubicin can be used in the research of infection and variety of cancers, including leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphomas, Ewing's sarcoma, Wilms' tumor.

Thymoquinone is an orally active natural product isolated from N. sativa Thymoquinone down-regulates the VEGFR2-PI3K-Akt pathway. Thymoquinone has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, anticonvulsant, antifungal, antiviral, antiangiogenic activity and hepatoprotective effects. Thymoquinone can be used to study Alzheimer's disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease and inflammation .

Dihydrotanshinone I is a natural compound extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge which has been widely used for treating cardiovascular diseases. Dihydrotanshinone I exhibits entry-blocking effect for MERS-CoV.

Chrysophanol (Chrysophanic acid) is a natural anthraquinone, which inhibits EGF-induced phosphorylation of EGFR and suppresses activation of AKT and mTOR/p70S6K.

Embelin (Embelic acid), a potent, nonpeptidic XIAP inhibitor (IC₅₀=4.1 μM), inhibits cell growth, induces apoptosis, and activates caspase-9 in prostate cancer cells with high levels of XIAP. Embelin blocks NF-kappaB signaling pathway leading to suppression of NF-kappaB-regulated antiapoptotic and metastatic gene products. Embelin also induces autophagic and apoptotic cell death in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Sennoside A is an anthraquinone glycoside found in senna (Cassia angustifolia). Sennoside A is an HIV-1 inhibitor (IC₅₀=3.8 μM) that inhibits HIV-1 replication. Sennoside A also inhibits HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT)-related DNA polymerase (RDDP) and ribonuclease H (Ribonuclease H) with IC₅₀s of 1.9 μM and 5.3 μM, respectively.

Aclacinomycin A (Aclarubicin) is an orally active and potent anthracycline antitumor antibiotic. Aclacinomycin A is an inhibitor of topoisomerase I and II. Aclacinomycin A inhibits synthesis of nucleic acid, especially RNA. Aclacinomycin A might inhibit the 26S protease complex as well as the ubiquitin-ATP-dependent proteolysis.

Juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthalenedione) is a yellow dye that can be extracted from Juglans regia. Juglone induces apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. Juglone has antibacterial and antitumor activity .

Plumbagin (2-Methyljuglone) is a naphthoquinone isolated from Plumbago zeylanica, exhibits anticancer and antiproliferative activities.

Physcion (Parietin), an anthraquinone derivative derived from the traditional Chinese medicine rhubarb, is an effective oral active 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase inhibitor with blood-brain barrier permeability, with IC₅₀ and K_d values of 38.5 μM and 26.0 μM, respectively. Additionally, Physcion is an inhibitor of the <>bTLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anticancer effects, and can induce Apoptosis and Autophagy in cancer cells.

Purpurin is a natural anthraquinone compound from Rubia cordifolia L.. Purpurin has antidepressant-like effects.

Acetylshikonin is an oral active anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fertility, antibacterial, and neuroprotective agent. Acetylshikonin is a inhibitor of acetylcholinase (AChE) (IC₅₀=34.6 μM) and nonselective cytochrome P450. Acetylshikonin can induce Apoptosis and Autophagy in cancer cells. Acetylshikonin regulates blood glucose, liver fat metabolism, and renal fibrosis, and is used in the study of diabetes, diabetic nephropathy (DN), obesity, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt, a redox co-factor, is an anionic, redox-cycling orthoquinone. Pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt is isolated from cultures of methylotropic bacteria and tissues of mammals. Pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt is an essential nutrient for mammals and is important for immune function.

Danthron is a natural product extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. Danthron functions in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism by activating AMPK.

Alizarin is a natural dye. Alizarin can be extracted from the roots of madder plant. Alizarin activates AMPK and VEGFR2/eNOS pathway. Alizarin regulates PI3K/Akt and inhibits NF-κB pathway. Alizarin enhances CYP1A1 enzyme activity. Alizarin has protective effects on hypertension and vascular endothelial dysfunction. Alizarin has anti-tumor activity against multiple cancers including pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, osteosarcoma and liver cancer. Alizarin has been widely used as a pigment in textile fabrics and paintings.

Coenzyme Q9 (Ubiquinone Q9), the major form of ubiquinone in rodents, is an amphipathic molecular component of the electron transport chain that functions as an endogenous antioxidant. Coenzyme Q9 attenuates the diabetes-induced decreases in antioxidant defense mechanisms. Coenzyme Q9 improves left ventricular performance and reduces myocardial infarct size and cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

Sennoside B is a potent and orally active platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) inhibitor. Sennoside B inhibits cell proliferation and the expression of phosphorylation of PDGFR-β, STAT-5, AKT and ERK induced by PDGF-BB. Sennoside B shows gastroprotective activities. Sennoside B has the potential for the research of gastritis.

Deoxyshikonin increases the expression of VEGF-C and VEGF-A mRNA in HMVEC-dLy, promotes HIF-1α and HIF-1β subunit interaction and binds to specific DNA sequences targeted by HIF. Deoxyshikonin inhibited colorectal cancer (CRC) through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Deoxyshikonin has proangiogenesis effect and antitumor activity. Deoxyshikonin is an antibacterial agent against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and S. pneumonia (MIC=17 μg/mL).