Flavonóides

Marein shows neuroprotective effect on PC12 cell damage induced by methylglyoxal, which is due to a reduction of damage to mitochondria function and activation of the AMPK signal pathway, it may be a potent compound for preventing/counteracting diabetic encephalopathy. Marein can improve insulin resistance induced by high glucose in HepG2 cells through CaMKK/AMPK/GLUT1 to promote glucose uptake, through IRS/Akt/GSK-3β to increase glycogen synthesis, and through Akt/FoxO1 to decrease gluconeogenesis. Marein shows antioxidant activity, it shows Histone deacetylase enzymes (HDACs) inhibitory activity and it also can inhibit TNFα-induced NF-κB activation.

Brazilin, isolated from Caesalpinia sappan has been known as a natural red pigment, exhibits the inhibitory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated NO production in a dose-dependent manner (IC50=24.3 microM), might be associated with the regulation of transcription factors NF-kappaB and AP-1; inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) plays an important role in inflammation and carcinogenesis, suggests that the suppressive effect of iNOS gene expression by brazilin might provide one possible mechanism for its anti-inflammatory and cancer chemopreventive activity.

Didymin is a citrus-derived natural compound that kills p53 wild-type as well as drug-resistant p53-mutant neuroblastoma cells in culture, it induces apoptosis by inhibiting N-Myc and upregulating RKIP in neuroblastoma. Didymin possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammation and anti-cancer properties.

Cirsilineol, from Artemisia vestita, has immunosuppressive and anti-tumor effects, inducing apoptosis via mitochondria.

Quercetin-3-gentiobioside may show significant inhibitor on AR and AGEs formation activities.