Genkwanin is a non-glycosylated flavone and is found and extracted from plant matrices[1]. Genkwanin possesses various biological activities, such as antioxidant, neuroprotective, anticancer, anti-bacterial and antidiabetic activities, it can effectively counteract pro-inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and IL-6 cytokines[1,2].
Genkwanin (0, 12.5, 25 and 50μM; 2h) suppressed the productions of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner[3]. Genkwanin (10μM; 72h) promoted CD8+ T cell proliferation[4].
Genkwanin (20mg/kg; 6 weeks; i.p.) alleviated airway epithelial cell damage in newborn Balb/c mice with asthma[5]. Genkwanin (10mg/kg; 7d; s.c.) protected LPS-induced osteoclast-mediated bone loss in C57BL/6 mice[6].
References:
[1] El Menyiy N, Aboulaghras S, Bakrim S, et al. Genkwanin: an emerging natural compound with multifaceted pharmacological effects [J]. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy, 2023, 165: 115159.
[2] Sun Y W, Bao Y, Yu H, et al. Anti-rheumatoid arthritis effects of flavonoids from Daphne genkwa [J]. International immunopharmacology, 2020, 83: 106384.
[3] Gao Y, Liu F, Fang L, et al. Genkwanin inhibits proinflammatory mediators mainly through the regulation of miR-101/MKP-1/MAPK pathway in LPS-activated macrophages [J]. PloS one, 2014, 9(5): e96741.
[4] Zhang B, Fu D, Wang X, et al. Network-based analysis and experimental validation of identified natural compounds from Yinchen Wuling San for acute myeloid leukemia [J]. Frontiers in pharmacology, 2025, 16: 1591164.
[5] Chen X, Liu J, An Z, et al. Genkwanin reduces airway epithelial cell ferroptosis and alleviates asthma symptoms in mice [J]. Phytomedicine, 2025, 148: 157306.
[6] Fu X, Sun X, Zhang C, et al. Genkwanin prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory bone destruction and ovariectomy-induced bone loss [J]. Frontiers in nutrition, 2022, 9: 921037.