Emodin

Chemical properties

red-orange powder

The Uses of Emodin

Emodin has been used:

• to investigate its regulatory mechanisms on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory injury in myocarditis
• as a reference standard for the development and validation of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-photodiode array (PDA) assay method
• to inhibit Tau aggregation
• for direct binding assay

The Uses of Emodin

Occurs mostly as the rhamnoside (see Frangulin) in rhubarb root. Cathartic.

The Uses of Emodin

antibacterial, antineoplastic, cathartic, tyrosine kinase inhibitor

What are the applications of Application

Emodin is a potent Lck tyrosine kinase inhibitor shown to suppress Neu tyrosine kinase activity

Definition

ChEBI: Emodin is a trihydroxyanthraquinone that is 9,10-anthraquinone which is substituted by hydroxy groups at positions 1, 3, and 8 and by a methyl group at position 6. It is present in the roots and barks of numerous plants (particularly rhubarb and buckthorn), moulds, and lichens. It is an active ingredient of various Chinese herbs. It has a role as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, an antineoplastic agent, a laxative and a plant metabolite. It is functionally related to an emodin anthrone. It is a conjugate acid of an emodin(1-).

General Description

Orange needles or powder.

Air & Water Reactions

Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

Emodin may be sensitive to prolonged exposure to light. Probably a weak acid due to the phenolic functional groups.

Health Hazard

ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: When heated to decomposition Emodin emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.

Fire Hazard

Flash point data for Emodin are not available; however, Emodin is probably combustible.

Biological Activity

Naturally occurring anthraquinone that displays a range of biological activities. Exhibits anti-inflammatory, antitumor and neuroprotective effects.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Cell permeable: yes

Purification Methods

Archin forms orange needles from EtOH, Et2O, *C6H6, toluene or pyridine. It sublimes above 200o at 12mm. [Tutin & Clewer J Chem Soc 99 946 1911, IR: Bloom et al. J Chem Soc 178 1959, UV: Birkinshaw Biochem J 59 495 1955, Raistrick Biochem J 34 159 1940.] 1R,2S-(-)Ephedrine see (-)-ephedrine (1R,2S-2-methylamino-1-phenylpropanol) in “Miscellaneous” in Chapter 6.