Cepharanthine (98%)

Cepharanthine is a biscoclaurine alkaloid isolated from Stephania cepharantha Hayata. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, immunomodulatory, and many other interesting biological activities. Suppresses NO production, which is one of the critical mediators of inflammation [1]. Inhibits either alone or in combination with 8-difluoromethoxy-1ethyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-7-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl-1-piperazinyl]-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid HIV-1 replication in TNF-a and PMA-stimulated U1 cells [2, 3]. Inhibits in a two-stage carcinogenesis model tumor promotion by TPA. Inhibits both ODC and PKC enzymes involved in the promotional phase of carcinogenesis [4 ,5]. Inducer of apoptosis in murine P388 doxorubicin-sensitive and -resistant cells, by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species and Fas-antigen expression [6]. When given in combination with other cancer therapeutic drug such as doxorubicin (Prod. No. LKT-D5794), tamoxifen (Prod. No. LKT-T0250, vindesine (Prod. No. LKT-V3354), vincristine (Prod. No. LKT-V5254), nitrosourea and others, cepharanthine potentiates their therapeutic effects by modulating the multidrug resistance [7-11]. Similar to minoxidil, it is able to stimulate proliferation and delay initiation of differentiation and keratinization of cultured cells [12].