Honokiol / PPARγ Cancer Research Results

HNK, Honokiol: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Honokiol is a Lignan isolated from bark, seed cones and leaves of trees of Magnolia species. Honokiol was traditionally used for anxiety and stroke treatment, as well as the alleviation of flu symptoms.
-considered to have antioxidant properties
-low oral bioavailability and difficulty in intravenous administration
-the development of various formulations of honokiol, including microemulsion, liposomes, nanoparticles and micelle copolymers have successfully solved the problem of low water solubility.

Pathways:
-Inhibit NF-κB activation
-Downregulate STAT3 signalin
-Inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway,
-Inhibition of mTOR
-Influences various MAPK cascades—including ERK, JNK, and p38
-Inhibition of EGFR
-Inhibiting Notch pathway (CSCs)
-GPx4 inhibit
-Can induce ER stress in cancer cells, which contributes to the activation of unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways
-Disrupt the mitochondrial membrane potential in cancer cells.
-Reported to increase ROS production in cancer cells
-Can exhibit antioxidant properties in normal cells. - has some inhibitor activity but Not classified as HDAC inhibitor as weaker and may work more indirectly.
- is well-known in the research community for its role in activating SIRT3

-Note half-life 40–60 minutes
BioAv
Pathways:
- induce ROS production in cancer cells, and typically lowers ROS in normal cells
- ROS↑ related: MMP↓(ΔΨm), ER Stress↑, GRP78↑, Ca+2↑, Cyt‑c↑, Caspases↑, DNA damage↑, cl-PARP↑, HSP↓ Prx
- Raises AntiOxidant defense in Normal Cells: ROS↓, NRF2↑, SOD↑, GSH↑, Catalase↑,
- lowers Inflammation : NF-kB↓, COX2↓, Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines : IL-1β↓, TNF-α↓, IL-6↓,
- inhibit Growth/Metastases : TumMeta↓, TumCG↓, EMT↓, MMPs↓, MMP2↓, MMP9↓, VEGF↓, ROCK1↓, RhoA↓, NF-κB↓, CXCR4↓, ERK↓
- reactivate genes thereby inhibiting cancer cell growth : HDAC↓, EZH2↓, P53↑, HSP↓,
- cause Cell cycle arrest : TumCCA↑, cyclin D1↓, cyclin E↓, CDK2↓, CDK4↓, CDK6↓,
- inhibits Migration/Invasion : TumCMig↓, TumCI↓, ERK↓, EMT↓,
- inhibits glycolysis and ATP depletion : HIF-1α↓, cMyc↓, GLUT1↓, LDH↓, LDHA↓, HK2↓, PDKs↓, ECAR↓, OXPHOS↓, GRP78↑, GlucoseCon↓
- inhibits angiogenesis↓ : VEGF↓, HIF-1α↓, Notch↓, EGFR↓,
- inhibits Cancer Stem Cells : CSC↓, CD133↓, β-catenin↓, sox2↓, nestin↓, OCT4↓,
- Others: PI3K↓, AKT↓, JAK↓, STAT↓, Wnt↓, β-catenin↓, AMPK, ERK↓, JNK, TrxR**, - Shown to modulate the nuclear translocation of SREBP-2 (related to cholesterol).
- Synergies: chemo-sensitization, chemoProtective, RadioSensitizer, RadioProtective, Others(review target notes), Neuroprotective, Cognitive, Renoprotection, Hepatoprotective, CardioProtective,

- Selectivity: Cancer Cells vs Normal Cells

Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer Cells Normal Cells Label Primary Interpretation Notes
1 Mitochondrial integrity / intrinsic apoptosis ↓ ΔΨm; ↑ cytochrome-c release; ↑ caspases ↔ largely preserved Driver Mitochondria-directed cytotoxicity Honokiol directly accumulates in mitochondria and initiates intrinsic apoptosis in cancer cells
2 Reactive oxygen species (ROS) ↑ ROS (secondary, stress-amplifying) ↔ buffered Secondary Mitochondrial stress amplification ROS elevation follows mitochondrial perturbation rather than acting as the initiating trigger
3 STAT3 signaling ↓ STAT3 activation ↔ minimal Driver Loss of survival and stemness signaling STAT3 suppression contributes to apoptosis, CSC targeting, and reduced proliferation
4 PI3K → AKT → mTOR axis ↓ AKT / ↓ mTOR ↔ adaptive suppression Secondary Growth and anabolic inhibition AKT/mTOR inhibition reinforces mitochondrial and apoptotic stress
5 NF-κB signaling ↓ NF-κB activation ↓ inflammatory NF-κB tone Secondary Suppression of survival transcription NF-κB inhibition contributes to chemosensitization and anti-inflammatory effects
6 Cell cycle regulation ↑ G0/G1 or G2/M arrest ↔ spared Phenotypic Cytostatic growth control Cell-cycle arrest reflects upstream signaling disruption
7 Autophagy ↑ autophagy (context-dependent) ↑ adaptive autophagy Adaptive Stress response vs death cooperation Autophagy may precede apoptosis or act as a transient survival response


PPARγ, Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ or PPARG): Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) is a type of nuclear receptor that plays a crucial role in regulating various biological processes, including glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and inflammation. It is primarily expressed in adipose tissue, but it is also found in other tissues, including the colon, breast, and prostate.
PPAR-γ has been shown to have both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting effects, depending on the type of cancer and the context. In some cancers, activation of PPAR-γ can inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis, while in others, it may promote tumor growth.
PPARγ
– Plays a central role in adipogenesis, lipid storage, and insulin sensitivity.
– Widely expressed in adipose tissue, but also present in colon, breast, and immune cells.
– In addition to metabolic functions, PPARγ regulates cell differentiation, apoptosis, and has anti-inflammatory effects.
– Ligand binding (such as endogenous fatty acids or synthetic agonists like thiazolidinediones) alters transcriptional programs impacting cell cycle and survival.

– In many cases, PPARγ is expressed in tumor cells, and its activation has been linked to induction of differentiation and growth arrest.
– However, expression levels can differ based on tumor subtype, with some studies reporting elevated levels while others note reductions in aggressive tumors.
– Crosstalk with other signaling pathways (e.g., Wnt/β-catenin, MAPK) can alter PPARγ's net effect in cancer cells.
Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
2893- HNK,  doxoR,    Honokiol protects against doxorubicin cardiotoxicity via improving mitochondrial function in mouse hearts
- in-vivo, Nor, NA
*mitResp↑, *PPARγ↑, *cardioP↑, *SIRT3↑, *ROS↓, *GSH↑, *SOD2↑,
2894- HNK,    Pharmacological features, health benefits and clinical implications of honokiol
- Review, Var, NA - Review, AD, NA
*BioAv↓, *neuroP↑, *BBB↑, *ROS↓, *Keap1↑, *NRF2↑, *Casp3↓, *SIRT3↑, *Rho↓, *ERK↓, *NF-kB↓, angioG↓, RAS↓, PI3K↓, Akt↓, mTOR↓, *memory↑, *Aβ↓, *PPARγ↑, *PGC-1α↑, NF-kB↓, Hif1a↓, VEGF↓, HO-1↓, FOXM1↓, p27↑, P21↑, CDK2↓, CDK4↓, CDK6↓, cycD1/CCND1↓, Twist↓, MMP2↓, Rho↑, ROCK1↑, TumCMig↓, cFLIP↓, BMPs↑, OCR↑, ECAR↓, *AntiAg↑, *cardioP↑, *antiOx↑, *ROS↓, P-gp↓,
2901- HNK,  doxoR,    Honokiol protects against doxorubicin cardiotoxicity via improving mitochondrial function in mouse hearts
- in-vivo, Nor, NA
*mitResp↑, *PPARγ↑, *Inflam↓, *ROS↓, *cardioP↑, *SOD2↑, *LDH↓,
4238- HNK,    Neuropharmacological potential of honokiol and its derivatives from Chinese herb Magnolia species: understandings from therapeutic viewpoint
- Review, AD, NA - NA, Park, NA
*BDNF↑, *hepatoP↑, *ALAT↓, *AST↓, *TNF-α↓, *SIRT3↑, *Aβ↓, *Apoptosis↓, *ROS↓, *MMP↑, *Ca+2↓, *Casp3↓, *Ach↑, *PPARγ↑, *PGC-1α↑, *motorD↑, *TNF-α↓, *IL1β↓,
2869- HNK,    Nature's neuroprotector: Honokiol and its promise for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
- Review, AD, NA - Review, Park, NA
*neuroP↑, *Inflam↓, *motorD↑, *Aβ↓, *p‑tau↓, *cognitive↑, *memory↑, *ERK↑, *p‑Akt↑, *PPARγ↑, *PGC-1α↑, *MMP↑, *mt-ROS↓, *SIRT3↑, *IL1β↓, *TNF-α↓, *GRP78/BiP↓, *CHOP↓, *NF-kB↓, *GSK‐3β↓, *β-catenin/ZEB1↑, *Ca+2↓, *AChE↓, *SOD↑, *Catalase↑, *GPx↑,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 5 of 5

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 5

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

HO-1↓, 1,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics ⓘ

OCR↑, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

ECAR↓, 1,  

Cell Death ⓘ

Akt↓, 1,   cFLIP↓, 1,   p27↑, 1,  

Cell Cycle & Senescence ⓘ

CDK2↓, 1,   CDK4↓, 1,   cycD1/CCND1↓, 1,   P21↑, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State ⓘ

FOXM1↓, 1,   mTOR↓, 1,   PI3K↓, 1,   RAS↓, 1,  

Migration ⓘ

MMP2↓, 1,   Rho↑, 1,   ROCK1↑, 1,   TumCMig↓, 1,   Twist↓, 1,  

Angiogenesis & Vasculature ⓘ

angioG↓, 1,   Hif1a↓, 1,   VEGF↓, 1,  

Barriers & Transport ⓘ

P-gp↓, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

NF-kB↓, 1,  

Hormonal & Nuclear Receptors ⓘ

CDK6↓, 1,  

Clinical Biomarkers ⓘ

BMPs↑, 1,   FOXM1↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 27

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

antiOx↑, 1,   Catalase↑, 1,   GPx↑, 1,   GSH↑, 1,   Keap1↑, 1,   NRF2↑, 1,   ROS↓, 5,   mt-ROS↓, 1,   SIRT3↑, 4,   SOD↑, 1,   SOD2↑, 2,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics ⓘ

mitResp↑, 2,   MMP↑, 2,   PGC-1α↑, 3,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

ALAT↓, 1,   LDH↓, 1,   PPARγ↑, 5,  

Cell Death ⓘ

p‑Akt↑, 1,   Apoptosis↓, 1,   Casp3↓, 2,  

Transcription & Epigenetics ⓘ

Ach↑, 1,  

Protein Folding & ER Stress ⓘ

CHOP↓, 1,   GRP78/BiP↓, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State ⓘ

ERK↓, 1,   ERK↑, 1,   GSK‐3β↓, 1,  

Migration ⓘ

AntiAg↑, 1,   Ca+2↓, 2,   Rho↓, 1,   β-catenin/ZEB1↑, 1,  

Barriers & Transport ⓘ

BBB↑, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

IL1β↓, 2,   Inflam↓, 2,   NF-kB↓, 2,   TNF-α↓, 3,  

Synaptic & Neurotransmission ⓘ

AChE↓, 1,   BDNF↑, 1,   p‑tau↓, 1,  

Protein Aggregation ⓘ

Aβ↓, 3,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

BioAv↓, 1,  

Clinical Biomarkers ⓘ

ALAT↓, 1,   AST↓, 1,   LDH↓, 1,  

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

cardioP↑, 3,   cognitive↑, 1,   hepatoP↑, 1,   memory↑, 2,   motorD↑, 2,   neuroP↑, 2,  
Total Targets: 49

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: PPARγ, Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ or PPARG)
5 Honokiol
2 doxorubicin
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#:94  Target#:259  State#:%  Dir#:2
  wNotes=0  sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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