Farnesol

Farnesyl alcohol is an isoprenoid originally isolated from plants but also produced in mammals, including humans, as an intermediate in the mevalonate biosynthesis pathway.¹ It acts as an agonist at the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors PPARα and PPARγ (ED₅₀s = 5.5 and 28 ?M, respectively).² Farnesyl alcohol has broad anticancer properties in vitro and in xenograft mouse models, inhibiting proliferation, slowing tumor growth, and inducing apoptosis.^3,4,5 In addition, it acts as a quorum sensing molecule in fungi, including C. albicans, where it reduces virulence by blocking the transition from yeast to mycelium.^6,7

1.Staines, A.G., Sindelar, P., Coughtrie, M.W., et al.Farnesol is glucuronidated in human liver, kidney and intestine in vitro, and is a novel substrate for UGT2B7 and UGT1A1Biochem. J.384(Pt. 3)637-645(2004) 2.Takahashi, N., Kawada, T., Goto, T., et al.Dual action of isoprenols from herbal medicines on both PPARγ and PPARα in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and HepG2 hepatocytesFEBS Lett.514(2-3)315-322(2002) 3.Lee, J.H., Kim, C., Kim, S.H., et al.Farnesol inhibits tumor growth and enhances the anticancer effects of bortezomib in multiple myeloma xenograft mouse model through the modulation of STAT3 signaling pathwayCancer Lett.360(2)280-293(2015) 4.Joo, J.H., Ueda, E., Bortner, C.D., et al.Farnesol activates the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis and the ATF4-ATF3-CHOP cascade of ER stress in human T lymphoblastic leukemia Molt4 cellsBiochem. Pharmacol.97(3)256-268(2015) 5.Park, J.S., Kwon, J.K., Kim, H.R., et al.Farnesol induces apoptosis of DU145 prostate cancer cells through the PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathwaysInt. J. Mol. Med.33(5)1169-1176(2014) 6.Hornby, J.M., Jensen, E.C., Lisec, A.D., et al.Quorum sensing in the dimorphic fungus Candida albicans is mediated by farnesolAppl. Environ. Microbiol.67(7)2982-2992(2001) 7.Polke, M., Leonhardt, I., Kurzai, O., et al.Farnesol signalling in Candida albicans - more than just communicationCrit. Rev. Microbiol.131-14(2017)