Kurarinone: From chemistry to pharmacological values-A review

Kurarinone (KRN) is a major prenylated flavanone isolated from Sophora flavescens, widely recognized for its diverse pharmacological activities and growing therapeutic relevance. This review provides a comprehensive and updated overview of KRN, encompassing its botanical occurrence, phytochemical characteristics, structural elucidation, and biotransformation pathways, alongside in-depth analyses of its pharmacological activities, molecular mechanisms, and pharmacokinetic behavior across experimental models. A structured literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using the keywords "Kurarinone," "Sophora flavescens flavonoids," "prenylated flavanones," and related terms. Studies reporting natural occurrence, chemical isolation, biotransformation, physicochemical properties, pharmacological mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity were included. In vitro and in vivo experimental studies and clinical disease models were prioritized, while non-primary sources and incomplete reports were excluded. KRN exhibited a broad pharmacological profile, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and organ-protective effects, driven by its capacity to orchestrate multiple signaling networks. Mechanistically, KRN regulated pivotal molecular pathways, such as NF-κB, MAPK, JAK2/STAT3, PI3K/Akt, Nrf2/HO-1, and caspase-dependent apoptosis, thereby modulating inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and cell apoptosis. Biotransformation studies reveal rapid conversion into glucuronide and hydroxyl conjugates. pharmacokinetic evidence indicated poor oral bioavailability (less than 50%), extensive Phase II metabolism, and tissue-specific accumulation, particularly in hepatic compartments. While these characteristics may contribute to therapeutic action, dose-dependent hepatotoxicity has been reported, highlighting critical translational challenges and the need for formulation advances and safety optimization. Future research should emphasize pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling, nano-delivery systems, toxicity profiling, and well-designed clinical studies to support its translational development.