Shikonin / HO-1 Cancer Research Results

SK, Shikonin: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
The (R)-enantiomer of alkannin is known as shikonin, and the racemic mixture of the two is known as shikalkin.
Shikonin is a naphthoquinone derivative primarily isolated from the roots of plants in the Boraginaceae family (e.g., Lithospermum erythrorhizon).
Shikonin is the main active component of a Chinese medicinal plant 'Zi Cao'
-Shikonin is a major component of zicao (purple gromwell, the dried root of Lithospermum erythrorhizon), a Chinese herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory properties
-Quinone methides (QMs) are highly reactive intermediates formed from natural compounds like shikonin
-ic50 cancer cells 1-10uM, normal cells >10uM

-known as Glycolysis inhibitor: ( inhibit pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2*******), a key enzyme in the glycolytic pathway)

Available from mcsformulas.com Shikonin Pro Liposomal, 30 mg
Also In Glycolysis Inhibithree(100 mg PHLORIZIN,10 mg TANSHINONE IIA, 8 mg Shikonin)

-Note half-life15-30mins or 8hr?.
BioAv low, poor water solubility
Pathways:
- usually induce ROS production in cancer cells, and reduce ROS in normal cells.
- ROS↑ related: MMP↓(ΔΨm), ER Stress↑, GRP78↑, Ca+2↑, Cyt‑c↑, Caspases↑, DNA damage↑, cl-PARP↑, HSP↓,
- Lowers AntiOxidant defense in Cancer Cells: NRF2↓, TrxR↓**, SOD↓, GSH↓ Catalase↓ GPx4↓
- Raises AntiOxidant defense in Normal Cells: ROS↓, NRF2↑, SOD↑, GSH↑, Catalase↑,
- lowers Inflammation : NF-kB↓, COX2↓, p38↓, Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines : NLRP3↓, IL-1β↓, TNF-α↓, IL-6↓, IL-8↓
- inhibit Growth/Metastases : TumMeta↓, TumCG↓, EMT↓, MMPs↓, MMP2↓, MMP9↓, IGF-1↓, uPA↓, VEGF↓, FAK↓, NF-κB↓, TGF-β↓, ERK↓
- cause Cell cycle arrest : TumCCA↑, cyclin D1↓, cyclin E↓, CDK2↓, CDK4↓,
- inhibits Migration/Invasion : TumCMig↓, TumCI↓, FAK↓, ERK↓, EMT↓,
- inhibits glycolysis /Warburg Effect and ATP depletion : HIF-1α↓, PKM2↓, cMyc↓, GLUT1↓, LDH↓, LDHA↓, HK2↓, PFKs↓, PDKs↓, ECAR↓, OXPHOS↓, GRP78↑, GlucoseCon↓
- inhibits angiogenesis↓ : VEGF↓, HIF-1α↓, EGFR↓, Integrins↓,
- Others: PI3K↓, AKT↓, JAK↓, STAT↓, β-catenin↓, AMPK, ERK↓, JNK, P53↑,
- Synergies: chemo-sensitization, chemoProtective, RadioSensitizer, Others(review target notes), Neuroprotective, Cognitive, Renoprotection, Hepatoprotective, CardioProtective,

- Selectivity: Cancer Cells vs Normal Cells
Rank Pathway / Target Axis Direction Primary Effect Notes / Cancer Relevance
1 PKM2-mediated aerobic glycolysis (Warburg metabolism) ↓ Energy / biomass restriction Key, repeatedly reported mechanism: shikonin suppresses PKM2 activity and PKM2-driven glycolysis in multiple tumor models, with downstream growth inhibition and apoptosis
2 ROS accumulation / oxidative stress ↑ ROS Redox overload Common upstream trigger that drives mitochondrial dysfunction and regulated cell death programs; often precedes necroptosis/apoptosis signaling
3 Necroptosis core cascade (RIPK1 → RIPK3 → MLKL) ↑ Programmed necrotic cell death Strong evidence across cancers (e.g., leukemia and nasopharyngeal carcinoma): shikonin increases RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL expression/activation; necroptosis inhibitors can blunt the effect
4 Mitochondrial integrity (ΔΨm) ↓ Mitochondrial dysfunction ROS-linked depolarization; acts as a pivot into intrinsic apoptosis and other death programs
5 Intrinsic apoptosis (BAX/BAK → Caspase-9/3) ↑ Programmed cell death Frequently observed; often framed as ROS → mitochondrial damage → caspase-dependent apoptosis
6 PKM2/STAT3 signaling axis ↓ Reduced survival & proliferation signaling In ESCC and related models, shikonin suppresses PKM2-driven glycolysis and down-modulates STAT3 pathway activity
7 NF-κB pathway ↓ Reduced pro-survival transcription Reported as part of multi-target suppression of inflammatory/anti-apoptotic programs in several tumor models and reviews
8 PI3K–AKT (± mTOR) ↓ Growth & resistance pathway inhibition Often described as sensitizing cells to apoptosis/TRAIL; may be secondary to oxidative stress and metabolic collapse
9 Stress MAPKs (JNK / p38) ↑ Pro-death stress signaling Common downstream response to ROS; can reinforce apoptosis and other death outcomes
10 Ferroptosis-related axis (lipid peroxidation; GPX4) ↑ lipid perox / ↓ GPX4 Iron-dependent oxidative death Reported prominently for acetylshikonin (a shikonin derivative): ROS-associated lipid peroxidation with reduced GPX4 expression alongside RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL activation
11 Endoplasmic reticulum stress (UPR / ERS) ↑ Proteotoxic stress signaling Frequently mentioned in leukemia-focused mechanism summaries and broader reviews as contributory to growth arrest and death
12 Multiple regulated death programs (apoptosis / necroptosis / ferroptosis / pyroptosis) ↑ (context-dependent) Broader cell-death engagement Recent reviews emphasize that shikonin can engage several programmed cell death modalities depending on cell context and dosing
Rank Pathway / Target Axis Direction Primary Effect Notes / Cancer Relevance Ref
1 PKM2-mediated aerobic glycolysis (Warburg metabolism) ↓ PKM2 activity / ↓ glycolysis Energy & biomass restriction Demonstrates shikonin (and analogs) inhibit cancer glycolysis, reducing glucose consumption/lactate production via PKM2 targeting (ref)
2 PKM2 → STAT3 signaling axis ↓ PKM2-driven signaling / ↓ STAT3 pathway Reduced survival & proliferation ESCC study: shikonin suppresses PKM2-mediated aerobic glycolysis and regulates PKM2/STAT3 signaling (ref)
3 Necroptosis (RIPK1 → RIPK3 → MLKL) ↑ RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL Programmed necrotic cell death Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: shikonin induces necroptosis with upregulation of RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL (with ROS involvement) (ref)
4 ROS accumulation ↑ ROS Oxidative stress trigger Colon cancer model: shikonin increases intracellular ROS; ROS functions upstream of apoptosis (ref)
5 Mitochondrial apoptosis (Caspase-9/3) ↑ Caspase-9/3 Programmed cell death Same colon cancer study shows shikonin increases caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity (mitochondria-mediated apoptosis) (ref)
6 ER stress / UPR (PERK → eIF2α → CHOP) ↑ Proteotoxic stress apoptosis signaling Colon cancer: shikonin-induced apoptosis mediated by PERK/eIF2α/CHOP ER-stress pathway (ref)
7 Autophagic flux (autophagosome–lysosome completion) ↓ autophagic flux (blocked) ROS + apoptosis amplification Colorectal cancer: shikonin induces ROS and apoptosis by inhibiting autophagic flux (ref)
8 NF-κB signaling ↓ NF-κB activity Reduced pro-survival transcription Pancreatic cancer xenograft/mechanistic study: shikonin suppresses NF-κB activity and NF-κB–regulated gene products (ref)
9 PI3K–AKT–mTOR (stemness / chemoresistance axis) ↓ PI3K/AKT/mTOR Reduced survival & stemness Chemoresistant lung cancer CSC context: shikonin attenuates PI3K–Akt–mTOR pathway and reduces cancer stemness (ref)
10 Cell cycle control (p21; G2/M arrest) ↑ p21 / ↑ G2/M arrest Proliferation block Gastric cancer (AGS): shikonin induces cell-cycle arrest linked to p21 regulation (ref)
11 Invasion / metastasis programs (NF-κB-linked) ↓ invasion Anti-invasive phenotype Reports shikonin inhibits tumor invasion via down-regulation of NF-κB–related mechanisms in a high-metastatic tumor model (ref)
12 Chemosensitization via glycolysis suppression ↓ glycolysis / ↑ cisplatin sensitivity Combination benefit NSCLC: shikonin inhibits glycolysis and sensitizes cells to cisplatin (explicitly connecting metabolic suppression to chemosensitization) (ref)


HO-1, HMOX1: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
(Also known as Hsp32 and HMOX1)
HO-1 is the common abbreviation for the protein (heme oxygenase‑1) produced by the HMOX1 gene.
HO-1 is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in various cellular processes, including the breakdown of heme, a toxic molecule. Research has shown that HO-1 is involved in the development and progression of cancer.
-widely regarded as having antioxidant and cytoprotective effects
-The overall activity of HO‑1 helps to reduce the pro‐oxidant load (by degrading free heme, a pro‑oxidant) and to generate molecules (like bilirubin) that can protect cells from oxidative damage

Studies have found that HO-1 is overexpressed in various types of cancer, including lung, breast, colon, and prostate cancer. The overexpression of HO-1 in cancer cells can contribute to their survival and proliferation by:
  Reducing oxidative stress and inflammation
  Promoting angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels)
  Inhibiting apoptosis (programmed cell death)
  Enhancing cell migration and invasion
When HO-1 is at a normal level, it mainly exerts an antioxidant effect, and when it is excessively elevated, it causes an accumulation of iron ions.

A proper cellular level of HMOX1 plays an antioxidative function to protect cells from ROS toxicity. However, its overexpression has pro-oxidant effects to induce ferroptosis of cells, which is dependent on intracellular iron accumulation and increased ROS content upon excessive activation of HMOX1.

-Curcumin   Activates the Nrf2 pathway leading to HO‑1 induction; known for its anti‑inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
-Resveratrol  Induces HO‑1 via activation of SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling; exhibits antioxidant and cardioprotective properties.
-Quercetin   Activates Nrf2 and related antioxidant pathways; contributes to anti‑oxidative and anti‑inflammatory responses.
-EGCG     Promotes HO‑1 expression through activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway; also exhibits anti‑inflammatory and anticancer properties.
-Sulforaphane One of the most potent natural HO‑1 inducers; triggers Nrf2 nuclear translocation and upregulates a battery of phase II detoxifying enzymes.
-Luteolin    Induces HO‑1 via Nrf2 activation; may also exert anti‑inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in various cell models.
-Apigenin   Has been reported to induce HO‑1 expression partly via the MAPK and Nrf2 pathways; also known for anti‑inflammatory and anticancer activities.
Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
2220- SK,    Shikonin Alleviates Gentamicin-Induced Renal Injury in Rats by Targeting Renal Endocytosis, SIRT1/Nrf2/HO-1, TLR-4/NF-κB/MAPK, and PI3K/Akt Cascades
- in-vivo, Nor, NA
*RenoP↑, *ROS↓, *SIRT1↓, *NRF2↑, *HO-1↑, *GSH↑, *TAC↑, *SOD↑, *MDA↓, *NO↓, *iNOS↓, *NHE3↑, *PI3K↑,
3042- SK,    The protective effects of Shikonin on lipopolysaccharide/D -galactosamine-induced acute liver injury via inhibiting MAPK and NF-kB and activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways
- in-vivo, Nor, NA
*TNF-α↓, *IL1β↓, *IL6↓, *IFN-γ↓, *ALAT↓, *AST↓, *MPO↓, *ROS↓, *JNK↓, *ERK↓, *p38↓, *NF-kB↓, *p‑IKKα↓, *SOD↑, *GSH↑, *HO-1↑, *NRF2↑, *hepatoP↑,
1346- SK,    An Oxidative Stress Mechanism of Shikonin in Human Glioma Cells
- in-vitro, GBM, U87MG - in-vitro, GBM, Hs683
NRF2↓, ROS↑, Apoptosis↑, Cyt‑c↑, GSH↓, MMP↓, P53↑, HO-1⇅,
2201- SK,    Shikonin promotes ferroptosis in HaCaT cells through Nrf2 and alleviates imiquimod-induced psoriasis in mice
- in-vitro, PSA, HaCaT - in-vivo, NA, NA
*eff↑, *IL6↓, *IL17↓, *TNF-α↓, *lipid-P↑, *NRF2↓, *HO-1↝, *NCOA4↝, *GPx4↓, *Ferroptosis↓, *Inflam↓, *ROS↓, *Iron↓,
2218- SK,    Shikonin Alleviates Endothelial Cell Injury Induced by ox-LDL via AMPK/Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway
- in-vitro, Nor, HUVECs
*Dose↝, *Apoptosis↓, *Casp3↓, *Bcl-2↑, *Inflam↓, *VCAM-1↓, *ICAM-1↓, *E-sel↓, *ROS↓, *SOD↑, *AMPK↑, *NRF2↑, *HO-1↑, *TNF-α↓, *IL1β↓, *IL6↓,
2217- SK,    Shikonin Inhibits Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Apoptosis to Attenuate Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Activating the Sirt1/Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway
- in-vivo, Nor, NA - in-vitro, Nor, HK-2
*ER Stress↓, *SIRT1↑, *NRF2↑, *HO-1↑, *eff↓, *RenoP↑, *GRP78/BiP↓, *CHOP↓, *Casp12↓, *BAX↓, *cl‑Casp3↓,
2214- SK,    Shikonin Attenuates Cochlear Spiral Ganglion Neuron Degeneration by Activating Nrf2-ARE Signaling Pathway
- in-vitro, Nor, NA
*NRF2↑, *HO-1↑, *NQO1↑, *antiOx↑, *neuroP↑, *ROS↓, *MDA↓, *SOD↑, GSH↑,
2196- SK,    Research progress in mechanism of anticancer action of shikonin targeting reactive oxygen species
- Review, Var, NA
*ALAT↓, *AST↓, *Inflam?, *EMT↑, ROS?, TrxR1↓, PERK↑, eIF2α↑, ATF4↑, CHOP↑, IRE1↑, JNK↑, eff↝, DR5↑, Glycolysis↓, PKM2↓, ChemoSen↑, GPx4↓, HO-1↑,
2195- SK,    Shikonin induces ferroptosis in osteosarcomas through the mitochondrial ROS-regulated HIF-1α/HO-1 axis
- in-vitro, OS, NA
TumCP↓, Ferroptosis↓, Hif1a↑, HO-1↑, Iron↑, ROS↑, GSH/GSSG↓, GPx4↓,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 9 of 9

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 9

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

Ferroptosis↓, 1,   GPx4↓, 2,   GSH↓, 1,   GSH↑, 1,   GSH/GSSG↓, 1,   HO-1↑, 2,   HO-1⇅, 1,   Iron↑, 1,   NRF2↓, 1,   ROS?, 1,   ROS↑, 2,   TrxR1↓, 1,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics ⓘ

MMP↓, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

Glycolysis↓, 1,   PKM2↓, 1,  

Cell Death ⓘ

Apoptosis↑, 1,   Cyt‑c↑, 1,   DR5↑, 1,   Ferroptosis↓, 1,   JNK↑, 1,  

Protein Folding & ER Stress ⓘ

CHOP↑, 1,   eIF2α↑, 1,   IRE1↑, 1,   PERK↑, 1,  

DNA Damage & Repair ⓘ

P53↑, 1,  

Migration ⓘ

TumCP↓, 1,  

Angiogenesis & Vasculature ⓘ

ATF4↑, 1,   Hif1a↑, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

ChemoSen↑, 1,   eff↝, 1,  
Total Targets: 30

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

antiOx↑, 1,   Ferroptosis↓, 1,   GPx4↓, 1,   GSH↑, 2,   HO-1↑, 5,   HO-1↝, 1,   Iron↓, 1,   lipid-P↑, 1,   MDA↓, 2,   MPO↓, 1,   NQO1↑, 1,   NRF2↓, 1,   NRF2↑, 5,   ROS↓, 5,   SOD↑, 4,   TAC↑, 1,  

Metal & Cofactor Biology ⓘ

NCOA4↝, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

ALAT↓, 2,   AMPK↑, 1,   SIRT1↓, 1,   SIRT1↑, 1,  

Cell Death ⓘ

Apoptosis↓, 1,   BAX↓, 1,   Bcl-2↑, 1,   Casp12↓, 1,   Casp3↓, 1,   cl‑Casp3↓, 1,   Ferroptosis↓, 1,   iNOS↓, 1,   JNK↓, 1,   p38↓, 1,  

Protein Folding & ER Stress ⓘ

CHOP↓, 1,   ER Stress↓, 1,   GRP78/BiP↓, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State ⓘ

EMT↑, 1,   ERK↓, 1,   PI3K↑, 1,  

Migration ⓘ

E-sel↓, 1,   VCAM-1↓, 1,  

Angiogenesis & Vasculature ⓘ

NO↓, 1,  

Barriers & Transport ⓘ

NHE3↑, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

ICAM-1↓, 1,   IFN-γ↓, 1,   p‑IKKα↓, 1,   IL17↓, 1,   IL1β↓, 2,   IL6↓, 3,   Inflam?, 1,   Inflam↓, 2,   NF-kB↓, 1,   TNF-α↓, 3,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

Dose↝, 1,   eff↓, 1,   eff↑, 1,  

Clinical Biomarkers ⓘ

ALAT↓, 2,   AST↓, 2,   IL6↓, 3,  

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

hepatoP↑, 1,   neuroP↑, 1,   RenoP↑, 2,  
Total Targets: 60

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: HO-1, HMOX1
9 Shikonin
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#:150  Target#:597  State#:%  Dir#:%
  wNotes=0  sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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