Ilimaquinone is a natural sesquiterpene quinone that has antimicrobial, anti-HIV, anti-mitotic, and anti-inflammatory properties. In mammalian cells, 25 μM ilimaquinone reversibly induces vesiculation of Golgi membranes, blocking the secretory pathway. It inhibits the conversion of S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) to homocysteine by SAH hydrolase (IC50 = 40 μM). Ilimaquinone also inhibits DNA polymerase β and dual specificity phosphatase Cdc25B (IC50 = 45.2 and 92 μM, respectively) and, at 10 μM, activates gene expression through hypoxia-inducible factor-1.
