Garcinol / Casp3 Cancer Research Results

GAR, Garcinol: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Found in dried fruit rind of Garcinia Indica with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and antibacterial properties
Garcinia Cambogia Extract.
"We conclude that patients who are T-cadherin-positive could especially benefit from a therapy with garcinol."

🔬1) NF-κB & AP-1 Suppression
Garcinol inhibits NF-κB and AP-1 transcriptional activity in multiple cancer cell systems, reducing pro-inflammatory and pro-survival gene expression.
📚 2) Epigenetic Regulation
Garcinol is one of the few natural products shown to inhibit p300/CBP histone acetyltransferases, shifting chromatin acetylation and influencing gene expression (differentiation, apoptosis, EMT). This is more specific than general “HDAC modulation.”
💀 3) Apoptosis
Studies report modulation of the Bcl-2 family and increased caspase activity, but this is often downstream of transcription/epigenetic changes, not a direct redox trigger.
🧬 4) Cell Cycle & Proliferation
Lower Cyclin D1, higher p21/p27, and G1/S arrest are common phenotypes.
🧭 5) Invasion & Angiogenesis
Garcinol reduces MMP-2/9 and angiogenic markers in multiple tumor cell assays.

Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer Cells Normal Cells TSF Primary Effect Notes / Interpretation
1 NF-κB / AP-1 signaling NF-κB ↓; AP-1 ↓; downstream pro-survival/inflammatory outputs ↓ ↔ or anti-inflammatory modulation in immune cells R, G Pro-survival & inflammatory transcription suppression Garcinol is reported to inhibit NF-κB and AP-1 transcriptional activity, reducing inflammation and pro-growth signaling in multiple models.
2 Epigenetic regulation (HAT/HDAC modulation) Inhibition of p300/CBP histone acetyltransferase; altered acetylation patterns ↔ baseline epigenetic state R, G Gene regulatory reprogramming Garcinol directly inhibits histone acetyltransferases (especially p300/CBP), influencing chromatin state and gene expression linked to differentiation and proliferation.
3 Intrinsic apoptosis (mitochondrial / caspase-linked) ↑ Bax/Bak; ↓ Bcl-2/Bcl-xL; ↑ caspase-9/3 ↔ minimal activation in normal cells G Execution of apoptosis Often downstream of stress and survival pathway modulation; not as dominant as classic pro-oxidant molecules but consistent in many cell lines.
4 Cell-cycle checkpoints (p21/p27; Cyclin D1) Cell-cycle arrest (often G1/S); Cyclin D1 ↓ G Cytostasis Frequently reported as later phenotypic outcome tied to reduced proliferation.
5 Invasion / metastasis programs (MMPs / EMT) MMP-2/9 ↓; invasion/migration ↓; EMT markers ↓ G Anti-invasive phenotype Linked mechanistically to NF-κB/AP-1 and epigenetic changes influencing MMP expression and EMT regulators.
6 Angiogenesis signaling (VEGF & pro-angiogenic factors) VEGF ↓; pro-angiogenic markers ↓ G Anti-angiogenic support Sometimes measured in later in vivo or emulated assay systems; reflects downstream gene expression changes.
7 PI3K/AKT / survival kinases ↓ PI3K/AKT signaling (model-dependent) R, G Survival/growth suppression Modulation of survival kinases is reported in some systems but not a universal primary mechanism.
8 ROS / oxidative stress (context–dependent) ROS modulation (inconsistent across models) P, R, G Conditional stress modulation Some studies report mild ROS changes, but garcinol is not a strong pro-oxidant driver like BetA or curcumin in cancer cells.
9 Chemo-sensitization / combination relevance Enhanced sensitivity to chemotherapeutics (context) G Combination leverage Combination effects are reported in selected cell lines/model systems; not universal.
10 Bioavailability constraint (oral exposure / formulation dependence) Systemic exposure often limited without enhanced delivery Translation constraint Poor native bioavailability is common across polyphenols/bzp molecules; formulations improve systemic exposure.

Time-Scale Flag (TSF): P / R / G

  • P: 0–30 min (primary/physical-chemical effects; rapid signaling / kinase shifts)
  • R: 30 min–3 hr (acute stress-response and transcription signaling)
  • G: >3 hr (gene-regulatory adaptation and phenotype-level outcomes)


Casp3, CPP32, Cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
Also known as CP32.
Cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3 (Caspase-3) is a common key protein in the apoptosis and pyroptosis pathways, and when activated, the expression level of tumor suppressor gene Gasdermin E (GSDME) determines the mechanism of tumor cell death.
As a key protein of apoptosis, caspase-3 can also cleave GSDME and induce pyroptosis. Loss of caspase activity is an important cause of tumor progression.
Many anticancer strategies rely on the promotion of apoptosis in cancer cells as a means to shrink tumors. Crucial for apoptotic function are executioner caspases, most notably caspase-3, that proteolyze a variety of proteins, inducing cell death. Paradoxically, overexpression of procaspase-3 (PC-3), the low-activity zymogen precursor to caspase-3, has been reported in a variety of cancer types. Until recently, this counterintuitive overexpression of a pro-apoptotic protein in cancer has been puzzling. Recent studies suggest subapoptotic caspase-3 activity may promote oncogenic transformation, a possible explanation for the enigmatic overexpression of PC-3. Herein, the overexpression of PC-3 in cancer and its mechanistic basis is reviewed; collectively, the data suggest the potential for exploitation of PC-3 overexpression with PC-3 activators as a targeted anticancer strategy.
Caspase 3 is the main effector caspase and has a key role in apoptosis. In many types of cancer, including breast, lung, and colon cancer, caspase-3 expression is reduced or absent.
On the other hand, some studies have shown that high levels of caspase-3 expression can be associated with a better prognosis in certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer. This suggests that caspase-3 may play a role in the elimination of cancer cells, and that therapies aimed at activating caspase-3 may be effective in treating certain types of cancer.
Procaspase-3 is a apoptotic marker protein.
Prognostic significance:
• High Cas3 expression: Associated with good prognosis and increased sensitivity to chemotherapy in breast, gastric, lung, and pancreatic cancers.
• Low Cas3 expression: Linked to poor prognosis and increased risk of recurrence in colorectal, hepatocellular carcinoma, ovarian, and prostate cancers.


Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
821- GAR,    Garcinol inhibits cell growth in hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B cells through induction of ROS-dependent apoptosis
- in-vitro, Liver, Hep3B
ROS↑, CHOP↑, MMP↓, Bax:Bcl2↑, Casp8↑, Casp3↑, Casp9↑, cl‑PARP↑, DFF45↑,
823- GAR,    Garcinol Potentiates TRAIL-Induced Apoptosis through Modulation of Death Receptors and Antiapoptotic Proteins
- in-vitro, BC, MCF-7 - in-vitro, Nor, MCF10 - in-vitro, CRC, HCT116
Casp3↑, Casp9↑, Casp8↑, DR5↑, survivin↓, Bcl-2↓, XIAP↓, cFLIP↓, BAX↑, Cyt‑c↑, ROS↑, GSH↓, *eff↓,
828- GAR,  Cisplatin,    Garcinol Alone and in Combination With Cisplatin Affect Cellular Behavior and PI3K/AKT Protein Phosphorylation in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells
- in-vitro, Ovarian, OVCAR-3
tumCV↓, cl‑PARP↑, cl‑Casp3↑, BAX↑, p‑PI3K↓, p‑Akt↓, NF-kB↓,
831- GAR,  CUR,    Induction of apoptosis by garcinol and curcumin through cytochrome c release and activation of caspases in human leukemia HL-60 cells
- in-vitro, AML, HL-60
Apoptosis↑, Casp3↑, MMP↓, Cyt‑c↑, proCasp9↑, Bcl-2↓, BAX↑, PARP↓, DNAdam↑, DFF45↓,
795- GAR,    Garcinol—A Natural Histone Acetyltransferase Inhibitor and New Anti-Cancer Epigenetic Drug
- Review, NA, NA
HATs↓, BAX↑, PARP↑, Bcl-2↓, Casp3↑, Casp9↑, DR5↑, cFLIP↓, MMP2↓, MMP9↓, STAT3↓, p‑Akt↓,
805- GAR,  Cisplatin,  PacT,    Garcinol Exhibits Anti-Neoplastic Effects by Targeting Diverse Oncogenic Factors in Tumor Cells
- Review, NA, NA
ERK↓, PI3K/Akt↓, Wnt/(β-catenin)↓, STAT3↓, NF-kB↓, ChemoSen↑, COX2↓, Casp3↑, Casp9↑, BAX↑, Bcl-2↓, VEGF↓, TGF-β↓, HATs↓, E-cadherin↑, Vim↓, Zeb1↓, ZEB2↓, Let-7↑, MMP9↓, TumCCA↑, ROS↑, MMP↓, IL6↓, NOTCH1↓,
808- GAR,  CUR,    Synergistic effect of garcinol and curcumin on antiproliferative and apoptotic activity in pancreatic cancer cells
- in-vitro, PC, Bxpc-3 - in-vitro, PC, PANC1
tumCV↓, Apoptosis↑, Casp3↑, Casp9↑,
811- GAR,    Garcinol exhibits anti-proliferative activities by targeting microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 in human colon cancer cells
- in-vitro, CRC, HT-29
mPGES-1↓, Hif1a↓, VEGF↓, CXCR4↓, MMP2↓, MMP9↓, Casp3↑, TumCP↓, PGE2↓,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 8 of 8

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 8

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

GSH↓, 1,   ROS↑, 3,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics

MMP↓, 3,   XIAP↓, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis

PI3K/Akt↓, 1,  

Cell Death

p‑Akt↓, 2,   Apoptosis↑, 2,   BAX↑, 5,   Bax:Bcl2↑, 1,   Bcl-2↓, 4,   Casp3↑, 7,   cl‑Casp3↑, 1,   Casp8↑, 2,   Casp9↑, 5,   proCasp9↑, 1,   cFLIP↓, 2,   Cyt‑c↑, 2,   DR5↑, 2,   survivin↓, 1,  

Transcription & Epigenetics

HATs↓, 2,   tumCV↓, 2,  

Protein Folding & ER Stress

CHOP↑, 1,  

DNA Damage & Repair

DFF45↓, 1,   DFF45↑, 1,   DNAdam↑, 1,   PARP↓, 1,   PARP↑, 1,   cl‑PARP↑, 2,  

Cell Cycle & Senescence

TumCCA↑, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State

ERK↓, 1,   Let-7↑, 1,   NOTCH1↓, 1,   p‑PI3K↓, 1,   STAT3↓, 2,   Wnt/(β-catenin)↓, 1,  

Migration

E-cadherin↑, 1,   MMP2↓, 2,   MMP9↓, 3,   TGF-β↓, 1,   TumCP↓, 1,   Vim↓, 1,   Zeb1↓, 1,   ZEB2↓, 1,  

Angiogenesis & Vasculature

Hif1a↓, 1,   VEGF↓, 2,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling

COX2↓, 1,   CXCR4↓, 1,   IL6↓, 1,   mPGES-1↓, 1,   NF-kB↓, 2,   PGE2↓, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance

ChemoSen↑, 1,  

Clinical Biomarkers

IL6↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 53

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Drug Metabolism & Resistance

eff↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 1

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: Casp3, CPP32, Cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3
8 Garcinol
2 Cisplatin
2 Curcumin
1 Paclitaxel
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells
Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:83  Target#:42  State#:%  Dir#:2
wNotes=0 sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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