Naphthoquinones and Anthraquinones: Chemical, Analytical, and Biological Overview

Abstract

Naphthoquinones and anthraquinones are a well‐studied class of molecules that play a role in preventing and treating various illnesses. A thorough literature search shows that these molecules are potent antifungal, anticancer, antidiabetes, and neuroprotective agents. In addition to their beneficial properties, naphtho‐ and anthraquinones have toxicological effects mainly due to their presence as photoproducts in air pollutants. The analytical detection of naphtho‐ and anthraquinones is problematic because of the following properties: first is their ability to undergo fast redox cycling and second is their potential to bind thiol, amine, and hydroxyl groups. The possibility of using labeled compounds along with the recent advances of the available analytical techniques facilitated their detection and allowed a better understanding of their mechanism of action. This chapter summarizes the current knowledge with respect to the biological activities of naphtho‐ and anthraquinones as well as their chemical reactivity in an attempt to understand the mechanism by which they exert their effects. An overview about their analytical detection is also presented.

Three-Stage Conversion of Chemically Inert n-Heptane to α-Hydrazino Aldehyde Based on Bioelectrocatalytic C–H Bond Oxyfunctionalization

“…The high partition coefficient of AQs in hydrophobic media is postulated to increase its affinity toward the hydrophobic core of small globular proteins, and the organic substrate in aqueous media. Naphtho- and anthraquinones form covalent interactions with thiol, amine, and hydroxyl groups in enzymes establishing “contact” at the enzyme-terminal. , The aromatic pendants parallelly π-stack with the graphene in carbon paper establishing “contact” at the electrode-terminal . In terms of the backbone, PEI is a water-insoluble, polycationic polymer with one of the highest positive charge density potentials due to every third atom being a protonatable amine .…”

Total Synthesis of the Antitumor–Antitubercular 2,6′-Bijuglone Natural Product Diospyrin and Its 3,6′-Isomer

“…Ramentaceone ( 2 ) was shown to induce apoptosis in the HL-60 (promyelocytic leukemia) cell line, through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) . ROS have also been implicated in the antitumor activity of diospyrin ( 1 ) and its dimethyl and diethyl ethers. , Indeed, production of ROS is the mode of action most commonly attributed to bioactive quinones, along with conjugation with the sulfhydryl groups of glutathione and the cysteine residues of proteins …”

Neuroprotective, Anti-Inflammatory and Antifibrillogenic Offerings by Emodin against Alzheimer’s Dementia: A Systematic Review

“…Emodin and other anthraquinones are targets for nucleophilic attacks by various chemical groups, such as thiols, hydroxyls and amines, which are abundantly present in proteins because of the widespread occurrence of amino acids cysteine, serine, and lysine, respectively. This actually constitutes the physiological basis for the bioactivity of emodin and other plant-derived anthraquinones …”

“…This actually constitutes the physiological basis for the bioactivity of emodin and other plant-derived anthraquinones. 31 …”