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cepharanthine
Uses:
- effective against HTLV in laboratory
- used in Japan since 1950s to treat radiation-induced leukopenia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, alopecia areata, alopecia pityrodes, venomous snakebites, xerostomia, sarcoidosis, refractory anemia & various cancer-related conditions
* investigational use in combination with nelfinavir for treatment of Covid-19
Adverse effects:
- rarely reported
Mechanism of action:
- membrane effects
- modulation of efflux pumps
- membrane rigidification
- inhibits entry of SARS-CoV2 into cells by preventing the virus from binding to a protein on the cell membrane
- intracellular & nuclear effects
- interferes with AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) & NFkappaB signalling [2]
Notes:
- isolated from the plant Stephania cephalantha Hayata
General
anti-inflammatory agent
antioxidant
antineoplastic agent (chemotherapeutic agent)
antiviral agent
antiparasitic agent
Database Correlations
PUBCHEM cid=10206
References
- Tokyo University of Science
The dream team: Scientists find drug duo that may cure COVID-19 together.
MedicalXpress. June 4, 2021
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-06-team-scientists-drug-duo-covid-.html
- Bailly C
Cepharanthine: An update of its mode of action, pharmacological properties
and medical applications.
Phytomedicine. 2019 Sep;62:152956
PMID: 31132753 PMCID: PMC7126782 Free PMC article