Honokiol

The barks of Magnolia officinalis

Honokiol is a hydroxylated biphenyl compound, which inhibits the activation of Akt and enhances the phosphorylation of ERK1/ERK2.

In Vitro:Honokiol (0, 12.5, 25 and 50 μM) inhibits the growth of GBM cells and induces apoptosis, with IC50 of appr against 30 μM DBTRG-05MG cell. Honokiol-induced apoptosis of GBM cells is associated with the downregulation of the Rb protein and cleavage of PARP and Bcl-x (S/L). Honokiol (50 μM) increases the level of autophagy markers in GBM cells[1]. Honokiol has anticancer effect, and the IC50 values with MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and MDA-MB-453 cell lines is 16.99 ± 1.28 μM, 15.94 ± 2.35 μM and 20.11 ±3.13 μM respectively. Honokiol (3, 10 μM) produces significant inhibition on the spheroid number and spheroid sizes in the clonogenic assay[2]. Honokiol (0.1-1.0 μM) specifically inhibits washed human platelet aggregation stimulated by collagen, but not by other agonists. honokiol (0.6 and 1.0 μM) can concentration-dependently inhibit the collagen-induced ATP-release reaction in washed human platelets. Honokiol specifically inhibits platelet aggregation and the phosphorylation of Lyn, PLCγ2, and PKC stimulated with convulxin. Honokiol (5, 10 μM) significantly inhibits convulxin-stimulated MAPKs and Akt activation[3]. Honokiol (10, 20 μM) increases ERK1/2 phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner depending on CaMK II activation[4].

In Vivo:Honokiol-NM (40 mg/kg, p.o.) produces superior anticancer effects, and the PCNA, Cyclin D1 and cleaved caspase 3 expressions are 2.12, 1.92 and 1.68-fold significantly altered in this treated group[2].

References:
[1]. Chang KH, et al. Honokiol-induced apoptosis and autophagy in glioblastoma multiforme cells. Oncol Lett. 2013 Nov;6(5):1435-1438. [2]. Godugu C, et al. Honokiol nanomicellar formulation produced increased oral bioavailability and anticancer effects in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2017 Jan 23;153:208-219. [3]. Lee TY, et al. Honokiol as a specific collagen receptor glycoprotein VI antagonist on human platelets: Functional ex vivo and in vivo studies. Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 5;7:40002. [4]. Zhai H, et al. Honokiol-induced neurite outgrowth promotion depends on activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2). Eur J Pharmacol. 2005 Jun 1;516(2):112-7.

Multifunctional effects of honokiol as an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer drug in human oral squamous cancer cells and xenograft.[Pubmed:25890726]

Biomaterials. 2015;53:274-84.

The aim of this study was to investigate anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects of Honokiol (HK) in two oral squamous cancer cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines, HN22 and HSC4, through the regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endoplasmic reticulum resident protein 44 (ERp44). Griess assay, zymography, and quantitative PCR were performed to study iNOS expression and subsequent nitric oxide (NO) production in OSCC cell lines. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based proteomic analysis was used to elucidate the proteins associated with ER stress and cellular cytotoxic response induced by HK. Pull-down assay and molecular modeling were performed to better understand how HK interacts with ERp44. In vitro and in vivo experiments in which ERp44 expression was knocked down were performed to better understand the effects of ERp44 on a cellular level and anti-cancer effects of HK. Expression levels of iNOS and subsequent NO secretion were reduced in OSCC cell lines treated with HK. ERp44 was significantly decreased in OSCC cell lines by HK treatment. HK directly bound to ERp44, and ERp44 knock-down significantly inhibited oral cancer cell proliferation and colony formation. Moreover, HK treatment effectively inhibited tumor growth and ERp44 levels in BALB/c nude mice bearing HN22 cell xenografts. Our findings suggest that HK inhibited inflammation and induced apoptosis by suppressing both iNOS/NO and ERp44 expression in HN22 and HSC4 cells and xenograft tumors, and thus could be a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer drug candidate for human oral cancer treatment.

Honokiol protects rat brain from focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting neutrophil infiltration and reactive oxygen species production.[Pubmed:14625055]

Brain Res. 2003 Dec 5;992(2):159-66.

We have previously shown that Honokiol, an active component of Magnolia officinalis, displayed protective effect against focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (FCI/R) injury in rats. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and infiltration of neutrophils to injured tissue play deleterious roles during cerebral ischemia. To study the mechanism(s) in mediating neuroprotective effect of Honokiol, FCI/R-induced neutrophil infiltration and lipid peroxidation in brain tissue, and activation of neutrophils in-vitro were examined. Intravenous administration of Honokiol (0.01-1.0 microg/kg) 15 min before (pretreatment) or 60 min after (post-treatment) middle cerebral artery occlusion reduced the total infarcted volume by 20-70% in dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment or post-treatment of Honokiol at concentration of 0.1 and 1.0 microg/kg significantly decreased the neutrophil infiltration in the infarcted brain. Time course of neutrophil infiltration was performed in parallel with the lipid peroxidation in infracted brain tissue during FCI/R injury. The results indicate that Honokiol can protect brain tissue against lipid peroxidation and neutrophil infiltration during FCI/R injury and cerebral infarction induced by FCI/R is accompanied with a prominent neutrophil infiltration to the infarcted area during FCI/R course. In-vitro, Honokiol (0.1-10 microM) significantly diminished fMLP (N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine)- or PMA (phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate)-induced neutrophil firm adhesion, a prerequisite step behind neutrophil infiltration, and ROS production in neutrophils. Intracellular calcium overloading activates calcium-stimulated enzymes and further exaggerates FCI/R injury. Honokiol (0.1-10 microM) impeded the calcium influx induced by fMLP (a receptor agonist), AlF(4)(-) (a G-protein activator) or thapsigargin (an intracellular calcium pool releaser). Therefore, we conclude that the amelioration of FCI/R injury by Honokiol can be attributed to its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory actions through, at least in part, limiting lipid peroxidation and reducing neutrophil activation/infiltration by interfering firm adhesion, ROS production, and calcium overloading that may be primed/activated during FCI/R injury.

Antidepressant-like effects of the mixture of honokiol and magnolol from the barks of Magnolia officinalis in stressed rodents.[Pubmed:18093712]

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2008 Apr 1;32(3):715-25.

Honokiol and magnolol are the main constituents simultaneously identified in the barks of Magnolia officinalis, which have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of mental disorders including depression. In the present study, we reported on the antidepressant-like effects of oral administration of the mixture of Honokiol and magnolol in well-validated models of depression in rodents: forced swimming test (FST), tail suspension test (TST) and chronic mild stress (CMS) model. The mixture of Honokiol and magnolol significantly decreased immobility time in the mouse FST and TST, and reversed CMS-induced reduction in sucrose consumption to prevent anhedonia in rats. However, this mixture was unable to affect ambulatory or rearing behavior in the mouse open-field test. CMS induced alterations in 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels in various brain regions of rats. An increase in serum corticosterone concentrations and a reduction in platelet adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity were simultaneously found in the CMS rats. The mixture of Honokiol and magnolol at 20 and 40 mg/kg significantly attenuated CMS-induced decreases of 5-HT levels in frontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum, hypothalamus and nucleus accumbens. And it markedly increased 5-HIAA levels in frontal cortex, striatum and nucleus accumbens at 40 mg/kg and in frontal cortex at 20 mg/kg in the CMS rats. A subsequent reduction in 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio was found in hippocampus and nucleus accumbens in the CMS rats receiving this mixture. Furthermore, the mixture of Honokiol and magnolol reduced elevated corticosterone concentrations in serum to normalize the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) hyperactivity in the CMS rats. It also reversed CMS-induced reduction in platelet AC activity, via upregulating the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) pathway. These results suggested that the mixture of Honokiol and magnolol possessed potent antidepressant-like properties in behaviors involved in normalization of biochemical abnormalities in brain 5-HT and 5-HIAA, serum corticosterone levels and platelet AC activity in the CMS rats. Our findings could provide a basis for examining directly the interaction of the serotonergic system, the HPA axis and AC-cAMP pathway underlying the link between depression and treatment with the mixture of Honokiol and magnolol.

Honokiol improves learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine in mice.[Pubmed:25912802]

Eur J Pharmacol. 2015 Aug 5;760:88-95.

Honokiol, a lignan isolated from the bark of Magnolia officinalis, has been reported to ameliorate the learning and memory impairments in senesed (SAMP8) mice. However, whether Honokiol could improve scopolamine (SCOP)-induced learning and memory deficits in mice is still unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether Honokiol could reverse the SCOP-induced learning and memory impairments in mice and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms of action. Mice were given daily intraperitoneal injection of Honokiol (10 and 20mg/kg) for 21 consecutive days. The results showed that Honokiol significantly improved spatial learning and memory function (as assessed by the Morris water maze test) in the SCOP-treated mice. In addition, treatment with Honokiol significantly decreased the protein and mRNA levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta and the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), while significantly increased the protein and mRNA levels of IL-10, and the level of acetylcholine (Ach) in the brain of the SCOP-treated mice. Moreover, Honokiol also significantly suppressed the production of prostaglandin E 2 (PGE2) and mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the brain of the SCOP-treated mice. Mechanistic investigations revealed that Honokiol could markedly reverse the amount of phosphorylated Akt and extracellular regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) changes in the brain of the SCOP-treated mice. These results amply demonstrated that Honokiol could improve learning and memory impairments induced by SCOP in mice, and the protective action may be mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of AChE activity, and amelioration of the neuroinflammatory processes in the SCOP-treated mice.

In vitro antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of honokiol and magnolol against Propionibacterium sp.[Pubmed:15288590]

Eur J Pharmacol. 2004 Aug 2;496(1-3):189-95.

Honokiol and magnolol, two major phenolic constituents of Magnolia sp., have been known to exhibit antibacterial activities. However, until now, their antibacterial activity against Propionibacterium sp. has not been reported. To this end, the antibacterial activities of Honokiol and magnolol were detected using the disk diffusion method and a two-fold serial dilution assay. Honokiol and magnolol showed strong antibacterial activities against both Propionibacterium acnes and Propionibacterium granulosum, which are acne-causing bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of Honokiol and magnolol was 3-4 microg/ml (11.3-15 microM) and 9 microg/ml (33.8 microM), respectively. In addition, the killing curve analysis showed that magnolol and Honokiol killed P. acnes rapidly, with 10(5) organisms/ml eliminated within 10 min of treatment with either 45 microg (169.2 microM) of magnolol or 20 microg (75.2 microM) of Honokiol per ml. The cytotoxic effect of Honokiol and magnolol was determined by a colorimetric (3-(4,5-dimetyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assay using two animal cell lines, human normal fibroblasts and HaCaT. In this experiment, magnolol exhibited lower cytotoxic effects than Honokiol at the same concentration, but they showed similar cytotoxicity when triclosan was employed as an acne-mitigating agent. In addition, they reduced secretion of interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) induced by P. acnes in THP-1 cells indicating the anti-inflammatory effects of them. When applied topically, neither phenolic compound induced any adverse reactions in a human skin primary irritation test. Therefore, based on these results, we suggest the possibility that magnolol and Honokiol may be considered as attractive acne-mitigating candidates for topical application.

Honokiol blocks and reverses cardiac hypertrophy in mice by activating mitochondrial Sirt3.[Pubmed:25871545]

Nat Commun. 2015 Apr 14;6:6656.

Honokiol (HKL) is a natural biphenolic compound derived from the bark of magnolia trees with anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-tumour and neuroprotective properties. Here we show that HKL blocks agonist-induced and pressure overload-mediated, cardiac hypertrophic responses, and ameliorates pre-existing cardiac hypertrophy, in mice. Our data suggest that the anti-hypertrophic effects of HKL depend on activation of the deacetylase Sirt3. We demonstrate that HKL is present in mitochondria, enhances Sirt3 expression nearly twofold and suggest that HKL may bind to Sirt3 to further increase its activity. Increased Sirt3 activity is associated with reduced acetylation of mitochondrial Sirt3 substrates, MnSOD and oligomycin-sensitivity conferring protein (OSCP). HKL-treatment increases mitochondrial rate of oxygen consumption and reduces ROS synthesis in wild type, but not in Sirt3-KO cells. Moreover, HKL-treatment blocks cardiac fibroblast proliferation and differentiation to myofibroblasts in a Sirt3-dependent manner. These results suggest that HKL is a pharmacological activator of Sirt3 capable of blocking, and even reversing, the cardiac hypertrophic response.

Honokiol is a potent scavenger of superoxide and peroxyl radicals.[Pubmed:18640101]

Biochem Pharmacol. 2008 Sep 1;76(5):589-96.

Honokiol, a compound extracted from Magnolia officinalis, has antitumor and antiangiogenic properties in several tumor models in vivo. Among the downstream pathways inhibited by Honokiol is nuclear factor kappa beta (NFkappabeta). A prime physiologic stimulus of NFkappabeta is reactive oxygen species. The chemical structure of Honokiol suggests that it may be an effective scavenger of reactive oxygen species. In this work, we have studied the reactions of Honokiol with superoxide and peroxyl radicals in cell-free and cellular systems using electron spin resonance (ESR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques. Honokiol efficiently scavenged superoxide radicals in xanthine oxidase and cytochrome P-450 cell-free systems with the rate constant 3.2x10(5)M(-1)s(-1), which is similar to reactivity of ascorbic acid but 20-times higher than reactivity of vitamin E analog trolox. Honokiol potently scavenged intracellular superoxide within melanoma cells. In addition, Honokiol scavenged peroxyl radicals generated by 2,2'-azo-bis(2-amidinopropane hydrochloride) (AAPH). The rate constant of the reaction of Honokiol with peroxyl radicals (1.4x10(6)M(-1)s(-1)) was calculated from the competition with spin trap 5-(ethoxycarbonyl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (EMPO), and was found close to reactivity of trolox (2.5x10(6)M(-1)s(-1)). Therefore, Honokiol is an effective scavenger of both superoxide and peroxyl radicals, which may be important for physiological activity of Honokiol.

Anti-inflammatory effect of honokiol is mediated by PI3K/Akt pathway suppression.[Pubmed:18158873]

Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2008 Jan;29(1):113-22.

AIM: In this study, we investigated the regulatory effects of Honokiol on various inflammatory events mediated by monocytes/macrophages (U937/RAW264.7 cells) and lymphocytes (splenic lymphocytes and CTLL-2 cells) and their putative action mechanism. METHODS: In order to investigate the regulatory effects, various cell lines and primary cells (U937, RAW264.7, CTLL-2 cells, and splenic lymphocytes) were employed and various inflammatory events, such as the production of inflammatory mediators, cell adhesion, cell proliferation, and the early signaling cascade, were chosen. RESULTS: Honokiol strongly inhibited various inflammatory responses, such as: (i) the upregulation of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 and TNF-alpha production and costimulatory molecule CD80 induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS); (ii) the functional activation of beta1-integrin (CD29) assessed by U937 cell-cell and cell-fibronectin adhesions; (iii) the enhancement of lymphocytes and CD8+CTLL-2 cell proliferation stimulated by LPS, phytohemaglutinin A (PHA), and concanavalin A or interleukin (IL)-2; and (iv) the transcriptional upregulation of inducible NO synthase, TNF-alpha, cyclooxygenase-2, IL-12, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1. These anti-inflammatory effects of Honokiol seem to be mediated by interrupting the early activated intracellular signaling molecule phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, but not Src, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and p38, according to pharmacological, biochemical, and functional analyses. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Honokiol may act as a potent anti-inflammatory agent with multipotential activities due to an inhibitory effect on the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Honokiol potentiates apoptosis, suppresses osteoclastogenesis, and inhibits invasion through modulation of nuclear factor-kappaB activation pathway.[Pubmed:16966432]

Mol Cancer Res. 2006 Sep;4(9):621-33.

Recent reports have indicated that Honokiol can induce apoptosis, suppress tumor growth, and inhibit angiogenesis. In this report, we found that Honokiol potentiated the apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and chemotherapeutic agents, suppressed TNF-induced tumor cell invasion, and inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis, all of which are known to require nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation. Honokiol suppressed NF-kappaB activation induced by a variety of inflammatory stimuli, and this suppression was not cell type specific. Further studies showed that Honokiol blocked TNF-induced phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and degradation of IkappaBalpha through the inhibition of activation of IkappaBalpha kinase and of Akt. This led to suppression of the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of p65 and NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene expression. Magnolol, a Honokiol isomer, was equally active. The expression of NF-kappaB-regulated gene products involved in antiapoptosis (IAP1, IAP2, Bcl-x(L), Bcl-2, cFLIP, TRAF1, and survivin), proliferation (cyclin D1, cyclooxygenase-2, and c-myc), invasion (matrix metalloproteinase-9 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1), and angiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor) were also down-regulated by Honokiol. Honokiol also down-regulated NF-kappaB activation in in vivo mouse dorsal skin model. Thus, overall, our results indicate that NF-kappaB and NF-kappaB-regulated gene expression inhibited by Honokiol enhances apoptosis and suppresses osteoclastogenesis and invasion.

Honokiol, a small molecular weight natural product, inhibits angiogenesis in vitro and tumor growth in vivo.[Pubmed:12816951]

J Biol Chem. 2003 Sep 12;278(37):35501-7.

Natural products comprise a major source of small molecular weight angiogenesis inhibitors. We have used the transformed endothelial cell line SVR as an effective screen of natural product extracts to isolate anti-angiogenesis and anti-tumor compounds. Aqueous extracts of Magnolia grandiflora exhibit potent activity in our SVR proliferation assays. We found that the small molecular weight compound Honokiol is the active principle of magnolia extract. Honokiol exhibited potent anti-proliferative activity against SVR cells in vitro. In addition, Honokiol demonstrated preferential inhibition of primary human endothelial cells compared with fibroblasts and this inhibition was antagonized by antibodies against TNF alpha-related apoptosis-inducing ligand. In vivo, Honokiol was highly effective against angiosarcoma in nude mice. Our preclinical data suggests that Honokiol is a systemically available and non-toxic inhibitor of angiogenesis and should be further evaluated as a potential chemotherapeutic agent.

Honokiol is a bioactive, biphenolic phytochemical that possesses potent antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiangiogenic, and anticancer activities by targeting a variety of signaling molecules. It inhibits the activation of Akt and enhances the phosphorylation of ERK1/ERK2. Honokiol can readily cross the blood brain barrier.

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