Five-Decade Update on Chemopreventive and Other Pharmacological Potential of Kurarinone: a Natural Flavanone

Abstract

In the present article we present an update on the role of chemoprevention and other pharmacological activities reported on kurarinone, a natural flavanone (from 1970 to 2021). To the best of our knowledge this is the first and exhaustive review of kurarinone. The literature was obtained from different search engine platforms including PubMed. Kurarinone possesses anticancer potential against cervical, lung (non-small and small), hepatic, esophageal, breast, gastric, cervical, and prostate cancer cells. In vivo anticancer potential of kurarinone has been extensively studied in lungs (non-small and small) using experimental xenograft models. In in vitro anticancer studies, kurarinone showed IC50 in the range of 2–62 µM while in vivo efficacy was studied in the range of 20–500 mg/kg body weight of the experimental organism. The phytochemical showed higher selectivity toward cancer cells in comparison to respective normal cells. kurarinone inhibits cell cycle progression in G2/M and Sub-G1 phase in a cancer-specific context. It induces apoptosis in cancer cells by modulating molecular players involved in apoptosis/anti-apoptotic processes such as NF-κB, caspase 3/8/9/12, Bcl2, Bcl-XL, etc. The phytochemical inhibits metastasis in cancer cells by modulating the protein expression of Vimentin, N-cadherin, E-cadherin, MMP2, MMP3, and MMP9. It produces a cytostatic effect by modulating p21, p27, Cyclin D1, and Cyclin A proteins in cancer cells. Kurarinone possesses stress-mediated anticancer activity and modulates STAT3 and Akt pathways. Besides, the literature showed that kurarinone possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-drug resistance, anti-microbial (fungal, yeast, bacteria, and Coronavirus), channel and transporter modulation, neuroprotection, and estrogenic activities as well as tyrosinase/diacylglycerol acyltransferase/glucosidase/aldose reductase/human carboxylesterases 2 inhibitory potential. Kurarinone also showed therapeutic potential in the clinical study. Further, we also discussed the isolation, bioavailability, metabolism, and toxicity of Kurarinone in experimental models.

Prenylated Flavonoids in Topical Infections and Wound Healing

“…IC 50 = 2-62 µM in cervical, lung (non-small and small), hepatic, esophageal, breast, gastric, cervical, and prostate cancer cells 20-500 mg/kg in vivo in lungs (non-small and small) cancer. Higher selectivity toward cancer cells in comparison with respective normal cells [195].…”

Targeting Breast Cancer-Derived Stem Cells by Dietary Phytochemicals: A Strategy for Cancer Prevention and Treatment

“…Dietary compounds also regulate cell cycle progression, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress response in cancer cells, and have the potential to modulate small non-coding RNAs’ expression alone or in a synergistic manner. More importantly, dietary phytochemicals have a greater ability to prevent/inhibit the formation of a small population of cancer cells often referred to as cancer stem-like cells by targeting various signaling pathways [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. Therefore, targeting the luminal A-derived BCSCs by dietary phytochemicals could be a better strategy in the prevention and clinical management of breast cancer.…”

Kurarinone attenuates hydrogen peroxide‐induced oxidative stress and apoptosis through activating the PI3K/Akt signaling by upregulating IGF1 expression in human ovarian granulosa cells

“…8 Kurarinone is one of natural flavonoids found in many plants such as Sophora angustifolia, and has multiple pharmacological potentials. 9 Previous reports have suggested that kurarinone has anti-carcinogenic property, 10,11 anti-inflammatory activity, 12 neuro-protective activity, 13 and anti-oxidative activity. 14,15 Hence, we hypothesized that kurarinone might regulate oxidative stress-induced granulosa cell dysfunction based on its anti-oxidative property.…”

“…The traditional Chinese medicines have rescue effects on granulosa cell apoptosis in ovarian failure, including follicular atresia 8 . Kurarinone is one of natural flavonoids found in many plants such as Sophora angustifolia , and has multiple pharmacological potentials 9 . Previous reports have suggested that kurarinone has anti‐carcinogenic property, 10,11 anti‐inflammatory activity, 12 neuro‐protective activity, 13 and anti‐oxidative activity 14,15 .…”