Pharmacological Features and Therapeutic Implications of Plumbagin in Cancer and Metabolic Disorders - A Narrative Review

Sep 21, 2026

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Plumbagin (PLB) is a naphthoquinone extracted from Plumbago indica. Growing evidence supports the pharmacological relevance of natural and synthetic naphthoquinones, and numerous studies indicate that PLB can combat cancers and other disorders. Substantial evidence suggests therapeutic potential across breast cancer, brain tumours, lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and additional conditions. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may help address neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, with mechanisms involving cell-cycle regulation, apoptosis, ROS induction, inflammatory signaling, and pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR and STAT3.

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CategoryHealthcare

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1. Introduction

nutrients Review Pharmacological Features and Therapeutic Implications of Plumbagin in Cancer and Metabolic Disorders: A Narrative Review Bhoomika Sharma 1, Chitra Dhiman 1, Gulam Mustafa Hasan 2, Anas Shamsi 3, * and Md. Imtiyaz Hassan 4, * Citation: Sharma, B.; Dhiman, C.; Hasan, G.M.; Shamsi, A.; Hassan, M.I. Pharmacological Features and Therapeutic Implications of Plumbagin in Cancer and Metabolic Disorders: A Narrative Review. Nutrients 2024, 16, 3033 . [https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16173033](https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16173033) Academic Editors: Debasis Bagchi, Yi-Wen Liu and Ching-Hsein Chen Received: 16 August 2024 Revised: 30 August 2024 Accepted: 6 September 2024 Published: 8 September 2024 Copyright: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://](https://)[ ](https://)[creativecommons.org/licenses/by/](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[ ](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[4.0/](4.0/)) . 1 Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025, India; [bhoomika124@gmail.com](bhoomika124@gmail.com) (B.S.); [dchitra1103@gmail.com](dchitra1103@gmail.com) (C.D.) 2 Department of Basic Medical Science, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia; [mgulam@jmi.ac.in](mgulam@jmi.ac.in) 3 Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates 4 Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025, India * Correspondence: [anas.shamsi18@gmail.com](anas.shamsi18@gmail.com) (A.S.); [mihassan@jmi.ac.in](mihassan@jmi.ac.in) (M.I.H.) Abstract: Plumbagin (PLB) is a naphthoquinone extracted from Plumbago indica. In recent times, there has been a growing body of evidence suggesting the potential importance of naphthoquinones, both natural and artificial, in the pharmacological world. Numerous studies have indicated that PLB plays a vital role in combating cancers and other disorders. There is substantial evidence indicating that PLB may have a significant role in the treatment of breast cancer, brain tumours, lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and other conditions. Moreover, its potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties offer promising avenues for the treatment of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. A number of studies have identified various pathways that maybe responsible for the therapeutic efficacy of PLB. These include cell cycle regulation, apoptotic pathways, ROS induction pathways, inflammatory pathways, and signal transduction pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR, STAT3/PLK1/AKT, and others. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the diverse pharmacological roles of PLB, examining the mechanisms through which it operates and exploring its potential applications in various medical conditions. In addition, we have conducted a review of the various formulations that have been reported in the literature with the objective of enhancing the efficacy of the compound. However, the majority of the reviewed data are based on in vitro and in vivo studies. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the safety and efficacy of PLB in humans and to ascertain its potential integration into therapeutic regimens for cancer and chronic diseases, rigorous clinical trials are essential. Finally, by synthesizing current research and identifying gaps in knowledge, this review seeks to enhance our understanding of PLBand its therapeutic prospects, paving the way for future studies and clinical applications. Keywords: plumbagin; natural products; anticancer; anti-inflammatory; apoptosis; antioxidant; cardiovascular disease; neurodegenerative diseases 1. Introduction Plants synthesize complex chemical compounds known as plant secondary metabo

FAQs

What is plumbagin (PLB) and where does it come from?

Plumbagin (PLB) is a naphthoquinone extracted from Plumbago indica.

Which diseases or conditions are discussed as potential targets of PLB?

The review highlights evidence for roles in breast cancer, brain tumours, lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and other disorders, with possible benefits for neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.

What mechanisms are proposed for PLB’s therapeutic effects?

Reported mechanisms include cell cycle regulation, apoptotic pathways, ROS induction, inflammatory pathways, and signal transduction routes such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR and STAT3/PLK1/AKT.

Sep 21, 2026

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