부산대학교 도서관

Malignant melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer with limited effective therapeutic options. Melanoma research concentrates on maximizing the effect on cancer cells with minimal toxicity to normal cells. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an important regulator of cellular energy homeostasis and has been shown to control tumor progression regulating the cell cycle, protein synthesis, and cell growth and/or survival. Honokiol (HNK) is a biphenolic compound derived from Magnolia officinalis, a plant that has been used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine for the treatment of various pathological conditions. Recent studies have shown that HNK has antitumor activity with relatively low toxicity. In this study, we demonstrated that the growth inhibitory effects of HNK on melanoma and melanoma cancer stem cells were mediated through the activation of AMPK and hence AMPK signaling in melanoma cells.