Hinokitiol is a component of essential oils isolated from Chymacyparis obtusa, reduces Nrf2 expression, and decreases DNMT1 and UHRF1 mRNA and protein expression, with anti-infective, anti-oxidative, and anti-tumor activities.

In U87MG and T98G glioma cell lines, hinokitiol demonstrates a dose-dependent decrease in viability, with IC50 values of 316.5 ± 35.5 and 152.5 ± 25.3 µM, respectively. Hinokitiol represses ALDH activity and self-renewal ability in glioma stem cells, and inhibits in vitro oncogenicity. Hinokitiol also reduces Nrf2 expression in glioma stem cells in a dose-dependent manner[1]. Hinokitiol (0-100 μM) inhibits colon cancer cell growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Hinokitiol (5, 10 μM) decreases DNMT1 and UHRF1 mRNA and protein expression, and increases TET1 expression via enhancement of 5hmC level in HCT-116 cells. Furthermore, hinokitiol reduces methylation status and restores mRNA expression of MGMT, CHST10, and BTG4 genes[2].