shikonin and juglone

Quinones are plant-derived secondary metabolites that present some anti-proliferation and anti-metastasis effects in various cancer types both in vitro and in vivo. This review focuses on the anti-cancer prospects of plant-derived quinones, namely, aloe-emodin, juglone, β-lapachol, plumbagin, shikonin, and thymoquinone. We intend to summarize their anti-cancer effects and investigate the mechanism of actions to promote the research and development of anti-cancer agents from quinones.

Topics: Anthraquinones; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Benzoquinones; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Humans; Naphthoquinones; Neoplasms; Plant Extracts

SARS-CoV-2 as a positive-sense single-stranded RNA coronavirus caused the global outbreak of COVID-19. The main protease (M

Topics: Animals; Binding Sites; Catalytic Domain; Cell Survival; Chlorocebus aethiops; COVID-19; COVID-19 Drug Treatment; Drug Design; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Humans; Hydrogen Bonding; Molecular Docking Simulation; Naphthoquinones; Protease Inhibitors; SARS-CoV-2; Structure-Activity Relationship; Vero Cells; Viral Matrix Proteins

A screening of plant quinones for inhibiting effects on the bacterial fire blight pathogen Erwinia amylovora was performed. The most active compound, juglone from walnuts, has a potent and specific bactericidal effect on E. amylovora and minimal inhibitory concentrations of only 2.5-10 μM, with stronger effects at lower, but still physiological, pH values. In vitro tests with juglone and inoculated flowers of apple (Malus domestica) showed an efficacy of 67% in preventing infection. In two years of field tests juglone had variable degrees of efficacy ranging from 40 to 82%, seemingly due to environmental conditions. A phytotoxic reaction to juglone, which is known for its allelopathic effect on plants, was restricted to browning of petals; later fruit russeting was not observed. Juglone is a promising candidate for the development of a new environmentally friendly plant protectant to replace the antibiotic streptomycin currently used in fire blight control.

Topics: Agrochemicals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Drug Stability; Erwinia amylovora; Flowers; Germination; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Malus; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Naphthoquinones; Plant Diseases; Quinones; Toxicity Tests