Plumbagin

Plumbagin is a yellow dye, formally derived from naphthoquinone. It is named after the plant genus Plumbago, from which it was originally isolated. It is also commonly found in the carnivorous plant genera Drosera and Nepenthes. It is also a component of the black walnut drupe. (In Vitro) :Plumbagin (0, 5, 10, and 15 μM) induces apoptosis of prostate cancer cell lines, such as DU145, CWR22rv1 and LNCaP, in a dose-dependent manner.Plumbagin (5, 20 μM) obviously inhibits the invasion of PC3, DU145, and CWR22rv1 cells. (In Vivo) :Plumbagin (2 mg/kg, i.p., five days a week for 11 weeks) inhibits the growth of tumor in male athymic nude mice.Plumbagin (2 mg/kg, i.p., five days a week for 11 weeks) inhibits expression of PKCε, suppresses JAK-2 and Stat3 phosphorylation, and activates Stat3, PCNA, VEGF and MMP-9 in mice.