plumbagin

Plumbagin is a naturally occurring naphthoquinone compound (C11H8O3) originally isolated from plants of the genus Plumbago and also found in other plant genera such as Drosera, Nepenthes, and black walnut. It is an orange crystalline powder with diverse biological activities. Mechanistically, plumbagin exhibits anticancer properties by inactivating signaling pathways including Akt/NF-kB, MMP9, and VEGF. It induces apoptosis in cancer cells through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibits NADPH oxidase 4 activity, activates Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response elements leading to upregulation of cytoprotective genes like NQO1 and heme oxygenase‑1, and inhibits tumor angiogenesis via effects on VEGF receptor‑2 signaling. Additionally, it has demonstrated antibacterial, antifungal, tuberculostatic activities as well as antifeedant effects against worms[1][3][9]. Plumbagin is considered genotoxic and mutagenic[2].

Other names

5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone2-methyljugloneplumbagineplumaginplumbapinPLUMBAGANPlumbaeinplumbagoneOphioxylin