MOLECULE

Denbinobin (5-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxy-1,4-phenanthrenequinone)

Denbinobin belongs to the class of organic compounds known as phenanthrols. Phenanthrols are compounds containing or comprised of a phenanthrene group (or its hydrogenated derivative) to which a hydroxyl group is attached. Denbinobin is also a member of the class of compounds known as phenanthrenequinones. Denbinobin is a non-cannabinoid of particular interest in Cannabis sativa, due to its interesting pharmacological activities (PMID: 18840408). Denbinobin has shown anti-cancer activities on several cell-lines (PMID: 15918186; PMID: 22089965; PMID: 15864744), as well as being able to inhibit the replication of HIV-1through an NF-kappaB-dependent pathway (PMID: 18840408). Interestingly, denbinobin is a typical secondary metabolite from orchidaceous plants, such as Dendrobium nobilum (Noble dendrobium) but it has also been identified in the flowers and leaves of some Cannabis strains (PMID: 28799497).