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Journal of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences ›› 2020, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (1): 1-12.DOI: 10.5246/jcps.2020.01.001

• Review •     Next Articles

Emodin and shikonin (quinones): an overview of their chemistry, plant sources, pharmacology and cytotoxic activities against lung cancer

Eric Wei Chiang Chan1*, Chen Wai Wong1, Siu Kuin Wong2, Yew Woh Hui2, Joash Ban Lee Tan3   

  1. 1. Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    2. Xiamen University Malaysia, Bandar Sunsuria, 43900 Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia
    3. School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Received:2019-10-13 Revised:2019-11-04 Online:2020-01-21 Published:2019-11-23
  • Contact: Tel.: +60-3-9101-8880, E-mail: chanwc@ucsiuniversity.edu.my, erchan@yahoo.com
  • About author:Dr. Eric Chan, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, obtained his PhD (Natural Product Chemistry) from Monash University Malaysia in 2009. To date, Dr. Eric Chan has 88 publications in international refereed journals with 66 (5 in JCPS) as the lead author. His publications have received more than 1289 citations in Scopus and 2716 citations in Google Scholar. He was one of the Top 5 Competitors of the Elsevier Green and Sustainable Chemistry Challenge 2015, out of 500 proposals submitted globally. In April 2016, he presented his proposal at the Green and Sustainable Chemistry Conference in Berlin, Germany. In the same month, he was awarded the Promising Researcher Award by UCSI University.

Abstract:

Emodin and shikonin are quinones that are commonly found in the roots of plant species of the families Polygonaceae and Boraginceae, respectively. They have a wide spectrum of bioactivities, including anti-cancer properties. This overview on the cytotoxic properties of emodin and shikonin is focused on lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in the world. In emodin, the −OH groups at C1 and C3 positions, while in shikonin, the −OH groups of the naphthazarin moiety and chiral side-chain, are important for their anti-tumour functions. Studies have shown that emodin and shikonin inhibit the growth of lung cancer cells by inducing apoptosis, autophagy, necrosis and early senescence, and by inhibiting proliferation, invasion, migration and metastasis. The cytotoxic activities are involved multiple molecular targets and signalling pathways. A clinical trial using shikonin to treat patients with late-stage lung cancer has been presented. Some future perspectives and research needs are suggested. Sources of information are from Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, J-Stage, PubChem and CNKI. 

Key words: Quinones, Emodin, Shikonin, Lung cancer cells, Clinical trial

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