Description
Purpurin is an anthraquinone found in madder root that is occasionally used as a pigment dye. Purpurin also exhibits anti-angiogenic, antifungal, antibiotic, and antioxidative activities. In vivo and in vitro, purpurin suppresses VEGF-induced cell invasion and tube formation by inhibiting adipocyte-derived leucine aminopeptidase. In other cellular models, purpurin acts as a radical scavenger. This compound inhibits growth of Candida by inducing apoptosis. Additionally, purpurin displays antibacterial activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria by inhibiting O-acetylpeptidoglycan esterase.
References
Park H, Shim JS, Kim BS, et al. Purpurin inhibits adipocyte-derived leucine aminopeptidase and angiogenesis in a zebrafish model. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2014 Jul 18;450(1):561-7. PMID: 24928393.
Tsang PW, Wong AP, Yang HP, et al. Purpurin triggers caspase-independent apoptosis in Candida dubliniensis biofilms. PLoS One. 2013 Dec 23;8(12):e86032. PMID: 24376900.
Pfeffer JM, Clarke AJ. Identification of the first known inhibitors of O-acetylpeptidoglycan esterase: a potential new antibacterial target. Chembiochem. 2012 Mar 19;13(5):722-31. PMID: 22351512.
Baghiani A, Charef N, Djarmouni M, et al. Free radical scanvenging and antioxidant effects of some anthraquinone derivatives. Med Chem. 2011 Nov;7(6):639-44. PMID: 22313303.
