Abstract
Emodin is a natural occurring anthraquinone derivative isolated from roots and barks of numerous plants, molds, and lichens. It is found to be an active ingredient in different Chinese herbs including Rheum palmatum and Polygonam multiflorum, and it is a pleiotropic molecule with diuretic, vasorelaxant, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. Moreover, emodin has also been shown to have a wide activity of anti-cardiovascular diseases. It is mainly involved in multiple molecular targets such as inflammatory, anti-apoptosis, anti-hypertrophy, anti-fibrosis, anti-oxidative damage, abnormal, and excessive proliferation of smooth muscle cells in cardiovascular diseases. As a new type of cardiovascular disease treatment drug, emodin has broad application prospects. However, a large amount of evidences detailing the effect of emodin on many signaling pathways and cellular functions in cardiovascular disease, the overall understanding of its mechanisms of action remains elusive. In addition, by describing the evidence of the effects of emodin in detail, the toxicity and poor oral bioavailability of mice have been continuously discovered. This review aims to describe a timely overview of emodin related to the treatment of cardiovascular disease. The emphasis is to summarize the pharmacological effects of emodin as an anti-cardiovascular drug, as well as the targets and its potential mechanisms. Furthermore, the treatment of emodin compared with conventional cardiovascular drugs or target inhibitors, the toxicity, pharmacokinetics and derivatives of emodin were discussed.
Highlights
Emodin (1, 3, 8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone) is a natural anthraquinone derivative, and is the main ingredient of many herbs including rhubarb, polygonum multiflorum, and polygonum cuspidatum (Dong et al, 2016; Monisha et al, 2016)
It is reported that emodin has a wide range of anticardiovascular activities
It is involved in multiple molecular targets, such as inflammatory regulation, anti-apoptosis, antihypertrophy, anti-myocardial fibrosis, inhibition of oxidative damage, and abnormal and excessive proliferation of smooth muscle cells
Summary
Emodin (1, 3, 8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone) is a natural anthraquinone derivative, and is the main ingredient of many herbs including rhubarb, polygonum multiflorum, and polygonum cuspidatum (Dong et al, 2016; Monisha et al, 2016). Emodin has been shown to have potent anti-cardiovascular activities in vitro and in vivo, including anti-inflammatory (Wu et al, 2007), antioxidant damage (Du and Ko, 2005), inhibition of myocardial cell fibrosis (Evans et al, 2020) and other pharmacological effects. Based on these pharmacological effects, emodin has been shown to be functional in myocarditis, myocardial hypertrophy, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and myocardial infarction.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
