Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42193989›Full record

ArticleBiomolecules2026

Picropodophyllotoxin Mitigates Severe Inflammation Through HMGB1 Inhibition.

Gyuri Han, Ga Eun Kim, Jong-Sup Bae

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Biomolecules, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Gyuri HanResearch Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cellular & Molecular Research Institute (CMRI), College of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea.
Ga Eun KimResearch Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cellular & Molecular Research Institute (CMRI), College of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea.
Jong-Sup BaeResearch Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cellular & Molecular Research Institute (CMRI), College of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-5756-9367

Funding

a grant of the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Devel-opment Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea RS-2025-25410994National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) NRF-RS-2025-00555195
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesPlant-derived phytochemicals are being increasingly explored for their ability to treat various illnesses, especially those affecting the vasculature. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) acts as a crucial mediator during the late phase of sepsis, promoting the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and thereby fueling inflammation and systemic complications. Higher plasma HMGB1 levels not only hinder accurate diagnosis and prognosis but also worsen disease outcomes in inflammatory states. Picropodophyllotoxin (PPT), a key bioactive ingredient isolated from the root of Podophyllum hexandrum, has shown a range of beneficial effects, including anti-cancer and anti-proliferative actions, across several tumor types. Nevertheless, its possible involvement in HMGB1-driven severe vascular inflammation remains unexplored. The current work aimed to investigate whether PPT could influence lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HMGB1 activity and its related inflammatory signaling in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

methodsA combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches was used to assess the anti-inflammatory action of PPT. These included measurements of endothelial barrier function, cell survival, leukocyte attachment and migration, levels of cell adhesion molecules, and the release of pro-inflammatory factors. Both cultured human endothelial cells and mouse disease models were used to thoroughly evaluate how PPT affects HMGB1-triggered inflammatory reactions.

resultsThe findings showed that PPT markedly reduced HMGB1 movement from inside HUVECs to the outside, thereby limiting its release into the environment. Moreover, PPT effectively decreased neutrophil sticking and migration, lowered the appearance of HMGB1 receptors, and prevented the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), a master switch in inflammatory signaling. At the same time, PPT treatment strongly lowered tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production, adding to its anti-inflammatory profile.

conclusionsTaken together, these results indicate that PPT potently inhibits HMGB1-driven inflammatory processes by acting at several levels of the inflammatory cascade, such as HMGB1 movement, receptor binding, NF-κB activation, and subsequent cytokine release. Therefore, PPT stands out as a hopeful therapeutic option for HMGB1-related inflammatory diseases and deserves further exploration in preclinical and clinical studies.

Indexed as

Anti-Inflammatory AgentsHMGB1 ProteinInflammationPodophyllotoxinAnimalsCell AdhesionHumansHuman Umbilical Vein Endothelial CellsLipopolysaccharidesMaleMiceAnti-Inflammatory AgentsHMGB1 ProteinHMGB1 protein, humanLipopolysaccharidespicropodophyllinPodophyllotoxinbarrier integrityendotheliumHMGB1LPSpicropodophyllotoxin

Identifiers

PMID42193989
PMCPMC13204249

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.