Parthenolide ((-)-Parthenolide) is a natural sesquiterpene lactone that is an NF-κB inhibitor and also specifically inhibits HDAC1 protein, but is inactive against other class I/II HDACs. Parthenolide has anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-viral activities.

Parthenolide (PTL) exhibits dose-dependent growth inhibition in NSCLC cells (Calu-1, H1792, A549, H1299, H157, H460) and induces apoptotic protein cleavage (CASP8, CASP9, CASP3, PARP1) in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, indicating apoptosis. Moreover, Parthenolide causes G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in A549 cells and G2/M arrest in H1792 cells in a concentration-dependent manner[2].

METHODS: To investigate the effects on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), Parthenolide (2-6 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally three times per week for eight weeks to MAFLD model mice.
RESULTS: Parthenolide exerted beneficial effects on hepatic injury, lipid metabolism, fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in mice with MAFLD, which were mediated by activation of the HIPPO pathway. [3]

Parthenolide (PTL) is dissolved in DMSO and diluted with appropriate media[2]. Cells are seeded in 96-well plates and treated on the second day with the given concentration of Parthenolide (0, 5, 10, 20 μM) for another 48 hours and then subjected to SRB or MTT assay. For SRB assay, live cell number is estimated as described earlier. After treatment, the medium is discarded firstly. In order to fix the adherent cells, 100 μL of cold trichloroacetic acid (10% (w/v)) are adding to each well and incubating at 4°C for at least 1 hour. The plates are then washed five times with deionized water and dried in the air. Each well are then added with 50 μL of SRB solution (0.4% w/v in 1% acetic acid) and incubated for 5 min at room temperature. The plates are washed five times with 1% acetic acid to remove unbound SRB and then air dried. The residual bound SRB is solubilized with 100 μL of 10 mM Tris base buffer (pH 10.5), and then read using a microtiter plate reader at 495 nm. The MTT assay is executed. 20 μL MTT (5 mg/mL) are added to each sample and incubate at 37°C for 4 h, then 100 μL solubilization solution are added. Cell viability is determined at 595 nm[2].