Embelin (2,5-dihydroxy-3-undecyl-1,4-benzoquinone) is a naturally occurring para-

benzoquinone Benzoquinone (C6H4O2) is a quinone with a single benzene ring. There are 2 (out of 3 hypothetical) benzoquinones: * 1,4-Benzoquinone, most commonly, right image (also ''para''-benzoquinone, ''p''-benzoquinone, ''para''-quinone, or just quinone) * 1 ...

isolated from dried berries of ''

Embelia ribes ''Embelia ribes'', commonly known as false black pepper, white-flowered embelia, ''vidanga'', ''vaividang'', ''vai vidang'', or ''vavding'', is a species in the family Primulaceae. It was originally described by Nicolaas Laurens Burman in his 176 ...

'' plants. Embelin has a wide spectrum of biological activities, including

antioxidant Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals. This can lead to polymerization and other chain reactions. They are frequently added to industrial products, such as fuels and lubricant ...

antitumor Cancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy (including immunotherapy such as monoclonal antibody therapy) and synthetic lethality, most commonly as a series of separate treatments (e.g. ...

anti-inflammatory Anti-inflammatory is the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation or swelling. Anti-inflammatory drugs, also called anti-inflammatories, make up about half of analgesics. These drugs remedy pain by reducing inflammation as o ...

analgesic An analgesic drug, also called simply an analgesic (American English), analgaesic (British English), pain reliever, or painkiller, is any member of the group of drugs used to achieve relief from pain (that is, analgesia or pain management). It ...

anthelmintic Anthelmintics or antihelminthics are a group of antiparasitic drugs that expel parasitic worms (helminths) and other internal parasites from the body by either stunning or killing them and without causing significant damage to the host. They may a ...

, antifertility and

antimicrobial An antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms or stops their growth. Antimicrobial medicines can be grouped according to the microorganisms they act primarily against. For example, antibiotics are used against bacteria, and antifungals ar ...

. Several studies have reported antidiabetic activity of embelin Embelin treatment significantly decreased paraquat‐induced lung injury through suppressing

oxidative stress Oxidative stress reflects an imbalance between the systemic manifestation of reactive oxygen species and a biological system's ability to readily Detoxification, detoxify the reactive intermediates or to repair the resulting damage. Disturbances ...

, inflammatory cascade (

inflammatory cytokine An inflammatory cytokine or proinflammatory cytokine is a type of signaling molecule (a cytokine) that is secreted from immune cells like helper T cells (Th) and macrophages, and certain other cell types that promote inflammation. They include in ...

s release), and MAPK/NF‐κB

signaling pathway In biology, cell signaling (cell signalling in British English) or cell communication is the ability of a cell to receive, process, and transmit signals with its environment and with itself. Cell signaling is a fundamental property of all cellula ...

in paraquat‐intoxicated rats Embelin and embelin derivatives selectively inhibits

5-LOX Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase, also known as ALOX5, 5-lipoxygenase, 5-LOX, or 5-LO, is a non-heme iron-containing enzyme (EC 1.13.11.34) that in humans is encoded by the ''ALOX5'' gene. Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase is a member of the lipoxygenase fa ...

and microsomal

prostaglandin E2 Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), also known as dinoprostone, is a naturally occurring prostaglandin with oxytocic properties that is used as a medication. Dinoprostone is used in labor induction, bleeding after delivery, termination of pregnancy, and ...

synthase-1Filosa, R., Peduto, A., Schaible, A. M., Krauth, V., Weinigel, C., Barz, D., ... & D'Agostino, B. (2015). Novel series of benzoquinones with high potency against 5-lipoxygenase in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 94, 132-139.

References

{{authority control Antioxidants Anti-aging substances Benzoquinones