Shikonin's anti-cancer properties.

Shikonin is a naphthoquinone pigment isolated from the roots of Lithospermum Erythrorhizon, also called gromwell root, Chinese comfrey, or Zi Cao.

Shikonin Inhibits Cancer Through P21 Upregulation and Apoptosis Induction {ref}

Shikonin and 4-hydroxytamoxifen synergistically inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells through activating apoptosis signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo {ref}

Shikonin Inhibits Tumor Growth in Mice by Suppressing Pyruvate Kinase M2-mediated Aerobic Glycolysis {ref}

Shikonin Inhibits Thyroid Cancer Cell Growth and Invasiveness Through Targeting Major Signaling Pathways {ref}

Shikonin inhibits the Warburg effect, cell proliferation, invasion and migration by downregulating PFKFB2 expression in lung cancer {ref}

Enhancement of NK cells proliferation and function by Shikonin {ref}

Ferroptosis: Shikonin suppresses small cell lung cancer growth via inducing ATF3-mediated ferroptosis to promote ROS accumulation {ref}

Shikonin induces colorectal carcinoma cells apoptosis and autophagy by targeting galectin-1/JNK signaling axis {study}

Iranzadeh S, Dalil D, Kohansal S, Isakhani M. Shikonin in breast cancer treatment: a comprehensive review of molecular pathways and innovative strategies. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2024 Aug 2;76(8):967-982. doi: 10.1093/jpp/rgae041. PMID: 38652046.

Nr2f inhibition {ref}

Summary of anticancer mechanisms

Clinical trial on the effects of shikonin mixture on later-stage lung cancer:

The shikonin mixture was used for 19 cases of later-stage lung cancer that were not candidates for operation, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. The clinical observation showed that the shikonin mixture could inhibit lung cancer growth and improve the body's immune function. The tumors were reduced by over 25% in diameter. The effective rate was 63.3%, the remission rate was 36.9%, and the survival rate of one year was 47.3%. The intermedium survival period was about 10 months, including adenocarcinoma 10 months and squamous carcinoma 12 months. After treatment, the life quality of patients was significantly improved. The patients had better appetites, and their body weights increased. They could manage themselves in daily life. The Karnofsky scores were enhanced by 20. The authors also observed that shikonin mixture could relieve such symptoms as cough, bloody sputum, and chest pain caused by lung cancer. The levels of cells and interleukin-2 were increased (P less than 0.001). It did not harm the peripheral blood picture, heart, kidney, or liver. The Shikonin mixture is safe and effective for later-stage cancer.

Guo XP, Zhang XY, Zhang SD. [Clinical trial on the effects of shikonin mixture on later stage lung cancer]. Zhong xi yi jie he za zhi = Chinese Journal of Modern Developments in Traditional Medicine. 1991 Oct;11(10):598-9, 580. PMID: 1806305.

Synergy

Melatonin sensitizes shikonin-induced cancer cell death mediated by oxidative stress via inhibition of the SIRT3/SOD2-AKT pathway {ref}

Half-life 8-9 hours {ref}