Embelin

Embelin is a benzoquinone that has been found in E. ribes and has diverse biological activities.¹ It inhibits viral replication of the influenza A subtype H1N1 and the influenza B subtype Victoria-like in MDCK cells (IC₅₀s = 0.3 and 0.2 µM, respectively).² It is also an inhibitor of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP; IC₅₀ = 4.1 µM in a fluorescence polarization assay).³ Embelin (20-50 µM) induces apoptosis and increases caspase-9 levels in PC3 prostate cancer cells. It completely inhibits TNF-α-induced NF-κB and IκB kinase (IKK) activation and inhibits TNF-α-induced IκBα phosphorylation in KBM5 human myeloid cells when used at a concentration of 50 µM.¹ It is active against the Gram-positive bacteria B. subtilis, S. aureus, and M. luteus (MICs = 20, 20, and 25 µg/ml, respectively) and the Gram-negative bacteria P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and E. coli (MICs = 25, 25, and 45 µg/ml, respectively).⁴

WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.

1. Ahn, K.S., Sethi, G., and Aggarwal, B.B. Embelin, an inhibitor of X chromosome-linked inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein, blocks nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway leading to suppression of NF-κB-regulated antiapoptotic and metastatic gene products. Mol. Pharmacol. 71(1), 209-219 (2007).

2. Hossan, M.S., Fatima, A., Rahmatullah, M., et al. Antiviral activity of Embelia ribes Burm. f. against influenza virus in vitro. Arch. Virol. 163(8), 2121-2131 (2018).

3. Nikolovska-Coleska, Z., Xu, L., Hu, Z., et al. Discovery of embelin as a cell-permeable, small-molecular weight inhibitor of XIAP through structure-based computational screening of a traditional herbal medicine three-dimensional structure database. J. Med. Chem. 47(10), 2430-2440 (2004).

4. Radhakrishnan, N., Gnanamani, A., and Mandal, A.B. A potential antibacterial agent embelin, a natural benzoquinone extracted from Embelia ribes. Biol. Med. 3(2), 1-7 (2011).