Damnacanthal

Damnacanthal is an anthraquinone isolated from the root of Morinda citrifolia. Damnacanthal is a highly potent, selective inhibitor of p56^lck tyrosine kinase activity. Natural Damnacanthal inhibits p56 ^lck autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of exogenous substrates with IC₅₀s of 46 nM and 220 nM, respectively. Damnacanthal is a potent inducer of apoptosis with anticancer activity. Damnacanthal also has antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory effects in mice and anti-fungal activity against Candida albicans^[1][2][3][4]. IC50 & Target:IC50: 46 nM (p56 ^lck autophosphorylation) and 220 nM (phosphorylation of exogenous substrates by p56 ^lck)^[1];
Apoptosis^[2];
Candida albicans^[2] In Vitro: Damnacanthal has > 100-fold selectivity for p56^lck over the serine/threonine kinases, protein kinase A and protein kinase C, and > 40-fold selectivity for p56^lck over four receptor tyrosine kinases. Damnacanthal also demonstrates modest (7-20-fold), but highly statistically significant, selectivity for p56^lck over the homologous enzymes p60^src and p59^fyn[1].
Damnacanthal (0.1-100 μM; 1-4 days; HCT-116 and SW480 cells) treatment results in a significant reduction of cell proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner^[2].
Damnacanthal (1-50 μM; 72 hours; HCT-116 cells) treatment results in a significant enrichment in the number of cells in the S/G1 and G2/G1 phases at concentration of 50 μM^[2].
Damnacanthal (10 μM; 24 hours; HCT-116 cells) treatment significantly increases caspase 3/7 activity. Damnacanthal-induced apoptosis^[2].
Damnacanthal (0.1-10 μM; 24 hours; HCT-116 cells) treatment induces NAG-1 expression in HCT-116 cells. Cyclin D1 expression is reduced at 10 μM of Damnacanthal, whereas p21 and p53 does not alter their expression. PARP cleavage is seen at 10 μM Damnacanthal treatment only in HCT-116 cells, where NAG-1 is induced^[2].
Damnacanthal treatment for 2 weeks shows significant decreasing colony number in HCT-116 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Damnacanthal-treated cells show a dramatic inhibition of clonogenic capacity. Damnacanthal-treated (1-50 μM; 48 hours) cells significantly inhibits the migration of HCT-116 cells in a concentration-dependent manner^[2]. In Vivo: Damnacanthal (10-100 mg/kg; oral administration; for 10-300 minutes; male ddY mice) treatment exhibits a significant antinociceptive effect in a dose-dependent manner in the formalin test. Administration of damnacanthal (100 mg/kg) shows significant inhibition of histamine-induced paw edema^[4].