Emodin / HDAC2 Cancer Research Results

EMD, Emodin: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Organic compound isolated from rhubarb, buckthorn, knotweed. It has laxative, anticancer, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, and antiviral activities, and is used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Emodin, an anthraquinone derivative found in various plants (e.g., rhubarb, Polygonum cuspidatum).

Pathways:
- Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)
- Upregulation Bax downregulation of Bcl‑2, caspase activation and cyt_c release.
- Induce cell cycle arrest at various checkpoints (commonly G0/G1 or G2/M phases.
- Can inhibit NF‑κB activation
– MAPK Pathways
– PI3K/Akt Pathway
- Metalloproteinases (MMPs)

-ic50 cancer cells 10-50uM, normal cells higher(supports a therapeutic window)

Rank Pathway / Target Axis Direction Label Primary Effect Notes / Cancer Relevance Ref
1 Reactive oxygen species (ROS) ↑ ROS Driver Upstream cytotoxic trigger Emodin induces ROS in cancer cells; ROS increase is positioned upstream of mitochondrial dysfunction and death signaling. (ref)
2 Mitochondrial integrity (ΔΨm) ↓ ΔΨm Driver Mitochondrial dysfunction Emodin decreases mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), consistent with mitochondria-dependent killing. (ref)
3 Intrinsic apoptosis (caspase cascade) ↑ apoptosis (↑ caspases / ↑ PARP cleavage) Driver Execution-phase cell death Emodin activates caspase-dependent apoptosis with mitochondrial involvement in colon cancer models. (ref)
4 AMPK → AKT/mTOR axis ↑ AMPK / ↓ AKT-mTOR signaling Secondary Growth/metabolic suppression NSCLC study reports AMPK activation with inhibition of AKT/mTOR alongside apoptosis and ROS increase (consistent directionality). (ref)
5 NF-κB signaling ↓ NF-κB activation (↓ p65 nuclear translocation; ↓ IκBα phosphorylation/degradation) Secondary Reduced pro-survival/inflammatory transcription Emodin inhibits TNF-α–induced NF-κB activation by blocking IκBα phosphorylation/degradation and p65 nuclear activity. (ref)
6 STAT3 signaling ↓ STAT3 activation (↓ phosphorylation) Secondary Reduced survival/proliferation signaling HCC study shows emodin suppresses STAT3 activation (and discusses upstream kinase modulation), supporting directionality as STAT3↓. (ref)
7 HIF-1α hypoxia program ↓ HIF-1α (↓ biosynthesis; not via transcription/stability) Adaptive Reduced hypoxia tolerance Pancreatic cancer study: emodin decreases HIF-1α by decreasing biosynthesis (explicit mechanism stated). (ref)
8 Aerobic glycolysis (Warburg output) ↓ glycolysis (↓ ECAR / ↓ glycolytic dependence) Phenotypic Metabolic suppression Renal cancer paper reports emodin inhibits aerobic glycolysis (and links killing to a non-apoptotic death mode in that model). (ref)
9 HDAC inhibition (epigenetic enzyme activity) ↓ HDAC activity Secondary Epigenetic modulation Direct biochemical evidence: emodin inhibits HDAC activity in vitro (fast-on/slow-off kinetics reported). (ref)
10 NRF2 / HO-1 antioxidant response ↑ NRF2 / ↑ HO-1 (context-dependent stress response) Adaptive Counter-response to redox stress HCC model reports emodin increases NRF2 and HO-1 expression; interpret as adaptive/compensatory (not necessarily the cytotoxic driver). (ref)


HDAC2, Histone Deacetylase 2: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
HDAC2 is a member of the class I histone deacetylase family that removes acetyl groups from lysine residues on histone proteins.

• This deacetylation usually promotes chromatin compaction, leading to transcriptional repression of genes involved in cell differentiation, apoptosis, and cell cycle regulation.
HDAC2, along with its relatives HDAC1 and others, is often found as part of multiprotein corepressor complexes that regulate gene expression in both normal and cancer cells.

2. Role of HDAC2 in Cancer
• Overexpression and Dysregulation:
– In several types of cancer, HDAC2 is overexpressed or dysregulated, contributing to an altered transcriptional profile.
– Elevated HDAC2 levels can lead to the suppression of tumor suppressor genes and genes involved in cell-cycle checkpoints or apoptosis, facilitating tumor progression.

• Impact on the Tumor Microenvironment:
HDAC2 activity influences not only tumor cells but also the surrounding stromal and immune cells, affecting inflammatory responses and immune evasion strategies.


Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
5227- EMD,    Emodin and emodin-rich rhubarb inhibits histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity and cardiac myocyte hypertrophy
- vitro+vivo, Nor, NA
*cardioP↑, HDAC↓, HDAC1↓, HDAC2↓, ac‑H3↑, Dose↝, BioAv↓,

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:


Transcription & Epigenetics

ac‑H3↑, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State

HDAC↓, 1,   HDAC1↓, 1,   HDAC2↓, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance

BioAv↓, 1,   Dose↝, 1,  
Total Targets: 6

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Functional Outcomes

cardioP↑, 1,  
Total Targets: 1

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: HDAC2, Histone Deacetylase 2
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#:75  Target#:984  State#:%  Dir#:%
wNotes=0 sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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