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13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2026

Emodin Induces AIF-Associated Apoptosis and Suppresses Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Colorectal Cancer Stem-Like Cells.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality due to therapeutic resistance. Because colorectal cancer stem-like cells (CRCSCs) play a central role in tumor initiation and progression, therapeutic strategies addressing CSC-enriched populations are urgently needed. In this study, we investigated the anticancer effects of emodin, a natural anthraquinone, in CSC-enriched tumorsphere models. Emodin significantly suppressed the viability and self-renewal capacity of HCT116- and SW480-derived CSCs. It induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and markedly downregulated stemness-associated markers (CD44, CD133, ALDH1A1, SOX2, NANOG, and OCT4). Importantly, emodin-induced cell death was characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction, increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, loss of membrane potential, and nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). This cytotoxicity was not rescued by the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK, confirming caspase-independent apoptosis. Furthermore, network pharmacology and experimental validation identified GSK3β as a key target. Emodin reduced Wnt/β-catenin signaling by decreasing β-catenin stabilization and nuclear accumulation. Crucially, a rescue experiment utilizing LiCl confirmed that emodin's suppressive effects are mechanistically dependent on the GSK3β/Wnt/β-catenin axis. Collectively, emodin suppresses CRCSC characteristics in vitro by downregulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling and inducing AIF-associated caspase-independent apoptosis, highlighting its therapeutic potential against CRC.

Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF)↗
PubMed2026

Computational discovery of emodin-based anthraquinones as PARP-1 inhibitors with relevance to ovarian and prostate cancer.

Cancer is a disease characterized by genomic instability and aberrant DNA repair. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) represents a well-established therapeutic target, particularly in ovarian and prostate cancer. However, the currently approved PARP inhibitors face challenges such as resistance, toxicity, and reduced efficacy. The search for alternative scaffolds has therefore become increasingly urgent. In this study, we used an integrated approach combining computer-aided methods to search for potential lead compounds among emodin-based anthraquinone derivatives as PARP-1 inhibitors. Using a PASS-based QSAR approach, drug-likeness prediction, and in silico ADMET assessment, we pre-screened a large set of anthraquinones and identified several potential hits for interaction with PARP-1. These hits were studied using molecular docking with the PARP-1 catalytic domain (PDB ID: 7KK4). The most stable and compact complexes were further explored by 500 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and various dynamic properties (RMSD, RMSF, Rg, SASA, MolSA, hydrogen bonds, PCA, DCCM). The key finding of this study is that several emodin-derived anthraquinones exhibited binding behavior and ADMET profiles comparable to, or better than, the reference PARP-1 inhibitor. Among them, CID-10425624 emerged as the most promising candidate, exhibiting stable binding, reduced conformational fluctuation, compact complex formation, persistent hydrogen-bond interactions, and enhanced dynamic residue correlations within the PARP-1 catalytic domain. These findings suggest that the anthraquinone scaffold can provide a valuable starting point for developing structurally distinct PARP-1 inhibitors. In summary, this study identified several emodin-derived anthraquinones, particularly CID-10425624, as computationally prioritized lead candidates for PARP-1 inhibition, providing a novel anthraquinone-based scaffold for further experimental validation and optimization.

Anthraquinones↗
PubMed1979

Biosynthetic relationships among the secalonic acids. Isolation of emodin, endocrocin and secalonic acids from Pyrenochaeta terrestris and Aspergillus aculeatus.

Cynodontin, emodin, endocrocin and secalonic acids A, E and G have been isolated from five strains of Pyrenochaeta terrestis. Aspergillus aculeatus produces emodin, endocrocin and secalonic acids B, D and F. No cynodontin was detected. Isolation of emodin in small amounts supports previous evidence that it is an intermediate in secalonic acid biosynthesis. Isolation of cynodontin and endocrocin, which are co-produced with secalonic acids in other organisms, suggests that these compounds are formed by a common branching pathway. A natural isolate of P. terrestris contained variant strains which produced different relative amounts of secalonic acids A, E and G. From the combinations of secalonic acids produced in organisms so far examined it is concluded that precursor tetrahydroxanthone units or formed in pairs differing in stereo-chemistry only at C-5 or at the trans-invariant C-6 : C-10a positions. A possible biosynthetic pathway is discussed.

Acetylation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Tumor inhibitors. 114. Aloe emodin: antileukemic principle isolated from Rhamnus frangula L.

A systematic fractionation of an ethanol-water (1:1) extract of the seeds of Rhamnus frangula L., guided by assays for tumore-inhibitory activity, led to the isolation of aloe emodin (1). This compound was found to show significant antileukemic activity against the P-388 lymphocytic leukemia in mice. A note-worthy vehicle-dependence of the testing results is reported. In the light of this vehicle-dependence, the re-examination of other anthraquinone derivatives is recommended.

Aloe↗
PubMed1977

Cascarosides A and B.

Electron-impact and field desorption mass spectrometry, together with NMR and circular dichroism spectroscopy, were used to confirm that cascarosides A and B are C-10 isomers of 8-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)barbaloin. Several batches of cascarosides A and B were prepared and oxidatively hydrolyzed to aloe-emodin. The results are discussed in relation to the assay for cascara given in the European Pharmacopoeia, 1971.

Anthraquinones↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Biologically active constituents of leaves and roots of Aloe arborescens var. natalensis.

Several biologically active substances, such as aloenin (1), magnesium lactate, aloe-emodin (4), barbaloin (5), and succinic acid, were found to be contained in the leaf juice of Aloe arborescens Mill. var. natalensis Berger, which has widely been used in domestic medicines. Aloenin (1) and magnesium lactate were elucidated to exhibit an inhibitory action on the gastric juice secretion of rats. Various constituents other than the above bioactive substances were found in the leaves and the roots of the plant.

Aloe↗
PubMed1979

Mutagenicity of anthraquinone and benzanthrone derivatives in the Salmonella/microsome test: activation of anthraquinone glycosides by enzymic extracts of rat cecal bacteria.

Approximately 70 anthraquinones and 20 benzanthrones were assayed for mutagenicity in the Salmonella/microsome test, employing 5 tester strains and Aroclor 1254 induced rat-liver microsomes. About one-third of the anthraquinones were frameshift mutagens, particularly phenolic and nitro anthraquinones. The most potent mutagens detected were of plant origin. Lucidin (1,3-dihydroxy-2-hydroxymethylanthraquinone) and its 2-ethyl ether gave values of 70 and 82 revertants per nmol, respectively, with strain TA100 (and microsomes in the case of the ether). A number of glycosides of mutagenic hydroxyanthraquinones were found to be nonmutagenic in the standard assay procedure, but could be activated by incorporation of cell-free sonic extracts of rat cecal bacteria, e.g., alizarin-2-O-beta-D-glycoside, emodin-1 (8)-monoglucoside and lucidin-3-O-primveroside. Over one-third of the benzanthrones tested were frameshift mutagens for Salmonella; the most potent response of 64 revertants/nmol was obtained with 3-p-toluidinobenzanthrone and microsomal activation in strain TA98.

Anthraquinones↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mutagenicity and antibacterial activity of mycotoxins produced by Penicillium islandicum Sopp and Penicillium rugulosum.

Twelve mycotoxins produced by Penicillium islandicum Sopp and Penicillium rugulosum in solid-state fermentation on grains were purified and tested for mutagenicity and antibacterial activity in Salmonella/mammalian microsome assays. The mutations studied were reversions of histidine auxotrophs to prototrophy in strains TA98 and TA100 and forward mutations to 8-azaguanine resistance (8AGR) in strain TM677. Rubroskyrin, (+)rugulosin, lumiluteoskyrin [a photoproduct of (-)luteoskyrin], and simatoxin [a new water-soluble metabolite of unknown structure] induced 8AGR mutations in strain TM677 but not histidine reversions in strains TA98 and TA100. Mutagenic potency was reduced by rat-liver microsomes. The carcinogens (-)luteoskyrin and cyclochlorotine were antibacterial but not mutagenic. (+)Rugulosin, rubroskyrin, lumiluteoskyrin, and high concentrations of simotoxin were also antibacterial. Antibacterial activity but not mutagenicity was observed with pibasterol and skyrin. Chrysophanol, islandicin, iridoskyrin, and emodin were inactive as mutagens or as antibacterial agents.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Some newly discovered mycotoxins.

The discovery of the aflatoxins in 1960 has taken place in the present era of the intense awareness of the importance of environmental contaminants. It has dramatically influenced subsequent fungal research with the resulting rapid increase in the number of publications describing mycological, chemical, toxicological and epidemiological aspects of mycotoxins. In this contribution results will be discussed which were published only subsequent to 1970. In this period the importance of several new classes of mycotoxins was realized, e.g. the toxic cytochalasins and the tremorgens. The potential role of highly oxygenated metabolites in mycotoxicosis was emphasized by the establishment of secalonic acids A and D. emodin, moniliformin, altenuisiol alternariol and austdiol as toxins. The structure of viridicatumtoxin, C30H31NO11, a metabolite produced by Penicillium viridicatum will be described. It is a novel compound, structurally related to the tetracyclines. The characterization of several mycotoxins from other toxigenic fungi will be reported.

Cytochalasins↗
PubMed1976

DNA-attacking ability of carcinogenic mycotoxins in recombination-deficient mutant cells of Bacillus subtilis.

Thirty mycotoxins and 5 chemically modified toxins were tested for DNA-attacking ability in the rec assay using the recombination-deficient mutant of Bacillus subtilis M45 (rec-) and the parent strain H17 (rec+). Six Penicillium toxins (citrinin, penicillic acid, patulin, (-)-luteoskyrin, (+)-rugulosin, and PR-toxin), 5 Aspergillus toxins (aflatoxins B1 and G1, sterigmatocystin, O-acetylsterigmatocystin, and O-acetyldihydrosterigmatocystin), and 2 Fusarium toxins (zearalenone and zearalenol-b) were positive. Among these 13 compounds, the following 8 mycotoxins have been reported to be carcinogenic in animals: citrinin, penicillic acid, patulin, (-)-luteoskyrin, (+)-rugulosin, aflatoxins B1, and G1, sterigmatocystin. Correlation between the rec effect and in vivo carcinogenicity of mycotoxins is discussed.

Aflatoxins↗