Antroquinonol

Antroquinonol inhibits cancer cell proliferation through multiple converging pathways. It activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibits the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling cascade, blocking protein synthesis and cell cycle progression in tumor cells. It suppresses STAT3 phosphorylation, preventing the transcription of genes involved in proliferation, survival, and angiogenesis. In hepatocellular carcinoma cells, antroquinonol induces autophagy through the CHOP/TRB3/Akt/mTOR pathway and promotes apoptosis via mitochondrial depolarization and caspase-3/9 activation. It also inhibits NF-kB nuclear translocation, reducing expression of anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL.