Plumbagin / GSH Cancer Research Results

PLB, Plumbagin: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Plumbagin (5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) is a naturally occurring naphthoquinone derivative.

–Plumbagin can undergo redox cycling to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS)
-apototosis, activation of caspases, modulation of Bax, Bcl‑2, loss of MMP.
-Cell cycle arrest in cancer cells, often at the G0/G1, or G2/M phases.
-May inhibit NF‑κB activation
– MAPK Pathways
– PI3K/Akt Pathway
-Downregulation of (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).

-Seems capable of raising ROS in normal and cancer cells (#2004)

-ic50 cancer cells 1-10uM, normal cells >10uM

Rank Pathway / Target Axis Direction Primary Effect Notes / Cancer Relevance Ref
1 Oxidative stress (redox cycling) ↑ ROS Upstream cytotoxic trigger Plumbagin induces ROS; ROS generation is causally linked to cell death in cancer models (ref)
2 Mitochondrial integrity (ΔΨm) ↓ ΔΨm Mitochondrial dysfunction Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential occurs during plumbagin-induced apoptotic progression (ref)
3 Intrinsic apoptosis (caspase cascade) ↑ caspase-dependent apoptosis Programmed cell death Plumbagin triggers apoptosis in leukemia and solid tumor cells; antioxidant rescue attenuates killing (ref)
4 NF-κB signaling ↓ NF-κB activation Reduced pro-survival / inflammatory transcription Demonstrates plumbagin suppresses NF-κB signaling in tumor/immune contexts (direction explicitly shown) (ref)
5 STAT3 signaling ↓ STAT3 phosphorylation Reduced survival & proliferation signaling Plumbagin suppresses constitutive and inducible STAT3 phosphorylation in cancer cells (ref)
6 PI3K–AKT–mTOR signaling ↓ PI3K/AKT/mTOR activity Survival pathway suppression Plumbagin inhibits PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in cancer cells with linked apoptosis/autophagy outcomes (ref)
7 Autophagy program ↑ autophagy Stress response (context-dependent role) Plumbagin induces autophagy alongside apoptosis; pathway involvement (p38, PI3K/AKT/mTOR) is demonstrated (ref)
8 Stress MAPK (p38 MAPK) ↑ p38 activation Stress signaling amplification p38 MAPK activation is implicated in plumbagin-driven apoptosis/autophagy signaling in cancer cells (ref)
9 Cell cycle control ↑ G2/M (or S–G2/M) arrest Proliferation blockade Plumbagin induces checkpoint arrest with changes in cyclins/CDKs consistent with growth inhibition (ref)
10 Death receptor axis (TRAIL receptors DR4/DR5) ↑ DR4/DR5 expression Sensitizes to TRAIL-mediated killing Plumbagin increases DR4/DR5 and enhances TRAIL killing; NAC blocks both ROS and receptor upregulation (ref)
11 EMT / invasion programs ↓ EMT (anti-invasive) Reduced metastasis-related phenotype Plumbagin suppresses epithelial–mesenchymal transition and stemness-related markers in cancer cells (ref)
12 Angiogenesis signaling (VEGFR2/VEGF-driven endothelial responses) ↓ angiogenesis signaling / function Anti-angiogenic effect Plumbagin inhibits tumor angiogenesis via interference with VEGFR2-mediated signaling in endothelial/tumor models (ref)


GSH, Glutathione: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
Glutathione (GSH) is a thiol antioxidant that scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in the formation of oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Decreased amounts of GSH and a decreased GSH/GSSG ratio in tissues are biomarkers of oxidative stress.
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant found in every cell of the body, composed of three amino acids: cysteine, glutamine, and glycine. It plays a crucial role in protecting cells from oxidative stress, detoxifying harmful substances, and supporting the immune system.
cancer cells can have elevated levels of glutathione, which may help them survive in the oxidative environment created by the immune response and chemotherapy. This can make cancer cells more resistant to treatment.
While glutathione can be obtained from certain foods (like fruits, vegetables, and meats), its absorption from supplements is debated. Some people take N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or other precursors to boost glutathione levels, but the effects on cancer prevention or treatment are still being studied.
Depleting glutathione (GSH) to raise reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a strategy that has been explored in cancer research and therapy.
Many cancer cells have altered redox states and may rely on GSH to survive. Increasing ROS levels can induce stress in these cells, potentially leading to cell death.
Certain drugs and compounds can deplete GSH levels. For example, agents like buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) inhibit the synthesis of GSH, leading to its depletion.
Cancer cells tend to exhibit higher levels of intracellular GSH, possibly as an adaptive response to a higher metabolism and thus higher steady-state levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

"...intracellular glutathione (GSH) exhibits an astounding antioxidant activity in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS)..."
"Cancer cells have a high level of GSH compared to normal cells."
"...cancer cells are affluent with high antioxidant levels, especially with GSH, whose appearance at an elevated concentration of ∼10 mM (10 times less in normal cells) detoxifies the cancer cells." "Therefore, GSH depletion can be assumed to be the key strategy to amplify the oxidative stress in cancer cells, enhancing the destruction of cancer cells by fruitful cancer therapy."

The loss of GSH is broadly known to be directly related to the apoptosis progression.
Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
2004- PLB,    Plumbagin Inhibits Proliferative and Inflammatory Responses of T Cells Independent of ROS Generation But by Modulating Intracellular Thiols
- in-vivo, Var, NA
TumCP↓, TumCG↓, NF-kB↓, ROS↑, GSH↓, eff↓, i-Thiols↓, GSH/GSSG↓, *GSH↓, *ROS↑,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 1 of 1

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 1

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

GSH↓, 1,   GSH/GSSG↓, 1,   ROS↑, 1,   i-Thiols↓, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State ⓘ

TumCG↓, 1,  

Migration ⓘ

TumCP↓, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

NF-kB↓, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

eff↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 8

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

GSH↓, 1,   ROS↑, 1,  
Total Targets: 2

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: GSH, Glutathione
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells

Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:299  Target#:137  State#:%  Dir#:%
  wNotes=0  sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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