A dihydroxyanthraquinone that is 9,10-anthraquinone bearing hydroxy substituents at positions 1 and 8, a methoxy group at position 3, and a methyl group at position 6. It has been widely isolated and characterised from both terrestrial and marine sources.
InChI=1S/C16H12O5/c1-7-3-9-13(11(17)4-7)16(20)14-10(15(9)19)5-8(21-2)6-12(14)18/h3-6,17-18H,1-2H3
Physcion is an anthraquinone from rhubarb (rhizomes of Rheum tanguticum), has anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antifungal, and anti-cancer activities; Physcion has anti-proliferative activity might via the induction of G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells.[1]
Physcion is the extract of the plant Baill, is highly active against plant powdery mildew.[2]
Physcion could be a potential candidate in the field of anticancer drug discovery against human cervical cancer, could significantly induce cell apoptosis through down-regulating of Bcl-2 expression, up-regulating of Bax expression, and activating the caspase-3 pathway. [3]
[1] Hong J Y, Chung H J, Song Y B, et al. Asian Pac J Cancer P, 2014, 19(4):273-8.
[2] Yang X, Yang L, Wang S, et al. Pest Manag Sci , 2007, 63(5):511–515.
[3] Wijesekara I, Zhang C, Ta Q V, et al. Microbiol Res , 2014, 169(4):255-261.
[4] Zhu L, Song Y. Asia-Pacific Traditional Medicine, 2013, 9(4):28-30.
