Description: <p><b>Brazilin</b></p>
<p><b>Recommended Abbreviation:</b> BRZ</p>
<p><b>Type:</b> Natural product / homoisoflavonoid / polyphenolic compound</p>
<p><b>Source:</b> Brazilin is a major bioactive constituent of the heartwood of <i>Caesalpinia sappan</i> L. (sappanwood) and is also found in <i>Haematoxylum brasiletto</i>.</p>
<p><b>Function:</b> Brazilin exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, metabolic, and neuroprotective activities. It can interact with redox pathways, apoptotic signaling, autophagy, inflammatory signaling, and metal ions including iron.</p>
<p><b>Cancer:</b> Brazilin has demonstrated antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity against multiple cancer types in preclinical studies, including breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, bladder, osteosarcoma, multiple myeloma, melanoma, and other malignancies. Reported mechanisms include apoptosis ↑, caspase activation ↑, autophagy ↑, cell-cycle arrest ↑, BCL-2-associated survival signaling ↓, invasion/migration ↓, and modulation of ROS and iron-dependent cellular processes.</p>
<p><b>Alzheimer's Disease:</b> Brazilin has demonstrated direct anti-amyloid activity in experimental studies. It inhibits Aβ42 fibril formation, interferes with fibril-catalyzed secondary nucleation, remodels mature Aβ fibrils into less ordered aggregates, and reduces Aβ42-associated cytotoxicity. These effects support potential neuroprotective activity, although clinical evidence is not established.</p>