DNH28 is a potent NF-κB and MAPK inhibitor with an IC50 value of 0.93 μM in HepG2 cells. It induces apoptosis by downregulating Bcl-2 and upregulating BAX and Cleaved-caspase-3 expression. DNH28 can arrest the cell cycle and inhibit cell migration, and is applicable for research in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

DNH28 (Compound 28) exhibits low toxicity to normal THLE-3 cells (IC 50 = 18.16 μM). At concentrations of 0.46-1.84 μM over 24 hours, DNH28 inhibits HepG2 cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis and causes dose-dependent arrest at the G2/M phase. It also suppresses HepG2 cell migration in a dose-dependent manner, with complete inhibition observed at 1.84 μM. Furthermore, DNH28 at 1.84 μM effectively blocks TNF-α-induced nuclear translocation of p65. The compound exerts its anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effects by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.