Brazilein, a natural, biologically active compound from Caesalpinia sappan L., has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant properties and to inhibit the growth of several
cancer cells. This study verifies the
antioxidant and antitumor characteristics of
brazilein in
skin cancer cells and is the first time to elucidate the inhibition mechanism of adipocyte differentiation, cestocidal activities against Hymenolepis nana, and reduction of spontaneous movement in Anisakis simplex.
Brazilein exhibits an
antioxidant capacity as well as the ability to scavenge DPPH(•) and
ABTS(•+)
free radicals and to inhibit lipid peroxidation.
Brazilein inhibited intracellular
lipid accumulation during adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells and suppressed the induction of
peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (
PPAR γ ), the master regulator of adipogenesis, suggesting that
brazilein presents the antiobesity effects. The toxic effects of
brazilein were evaluated in terms of cell viability, induction of apoptosis, and the activity of
caspase-3 in BCC cells. The inhibition of the growth of
skin cancer cells (A431, BCC, and SCC25) by
brazilein is greater than that of human skin
malignant melanoma (A375) cells, mouse leukemic monocyte macrophage (RAW 264.7 cells), and noncancerous cells (HaCaT and BNLCL2 cells). The
anthelmintic activities of
brazilein against Hymenolepis nana are better than those of Anisakis simplex.