Description:
5,8-Dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone is a natural compound that is found in the bark of “Nothofagus” species. It has been shown to inhibit the transcriptional activity of NF-κB and AP-1 through its ability to bind to the response element in these promoters. 5,8-Dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone has been shown to be cytotoxic against HL60 cells in vitro. This cytotoxicity may be due to its ability to cause an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ levels by inhibiting the mitochondrial ATPase enzyme. 5,8-Dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone has also been shown to induce apoptosis in fetal bovine retinal cells and neuronal death in rat cortical neurons. It is thought that this drug may have anticancer properties because it triggers DNA damage and inhibits cell proliferation.