Pharmacological Activity of Cepharanthine

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 28; no. 13; p. 5019
• Main Authors: Liu, Ke, Hong, Bixia, Wang, Shuqi, Lou, Fuxing, You, Yecheng, Hu, Ruolan, Shafqat, Amna, Fan, Huahao, Tong, Yigang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 27-06-2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Alkaloids; Alkaloids - pharmacology; Analysis; Antiviral agents; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; antivirals; Benzylisoquinolines - pharmacology; Bioavailability; Bone resorption; Cell cycle; cepharanthine; COVID-19; Fluidity; Health aspects; Health services; Herpes viruses; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Immunomodulation; Infection; Infections; Inflammation; Kinases; Membrane fluidity; Middle East respiratory syndrome; pharmacokinetics; pharmacological activity; Pharmacology; Proteins; Review; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Signal transduction; Snakes; China; pharmacokinetics; antivirals; pharmacological activity; cepharanthine; alkaloids
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules28135019

Cepharanthine, a natural bisbenzylisoquinoline (BBIQ) alkaloid isolated from the plant
, is the only bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid approved for human use and has been used in the clinic for more than 70 years. Cepharanthine has a variety of medicinal properties, including signaling pathway inhibitory activities, immunomodulatory activities, and antiviral activities. Recently, cepharanthine has been confirmed to greatly inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, we aimed to describe the pharmacological properties and mechanisms of cepharanthine, mainly including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-pathogen activities, inhibition of bone resorption, treatment of alopecia, treatment of snake bite, and other activities. At the same time, we analyzed and summarized the potential antiviral mechanism of cepharanthine and concluded that one of the most important anti-viral mechanisms of cepharanthine may be the stability of plasma membrane fluidity. Additionally, we explained its safety and bioavailability, which provides evidence for cepharanthine as a potential drug for the treatment of a variety of diseases. Finally, we further discuss the potential new clinical applications of cepharanthine and provide direction for its future development.