Tetrandrine

Tetrandrine is a bis-benzyl-isoquinoline alkaloid, which inhibits voltage-gated Ca2+ current (ICa) and Ca2+-activated K+ current.
(+)-Tetrandrine is a member of isoquinolines and a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid.|Tetrandrine is a natural, bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the root of the plant Radix stephania tetrandrae. Tetrandrine non-selectively inhibits calcium channel activity and induces G1 blockade of the G1 phase of the cell cycle and apoptosis in various cell types, resulting in immunosuppressive, anti-proliferative and free radical scavenging effects. This agent also increases glucose utilization by enhancing hepatocyte glycogen synthesis, resulting in the lowering of plasma glucose. (NCI04)
Recently it has been discovered that pronounced drug-dependence and related toxic effects occur in both dogs and rhesus monkeys with this alkaloid on intravenous injection with a dose of 10-150 mg/kg. When rapidly injected, the acute hypotensive effect is very marked and fatal at once. Following drug administration at toxic levels it is found that severe local tissue reaction heptaotoxicity and lymphoid necrosis occurs. At the highest dosage level there is a very definite nephrotoxicity in monkeys and some indications of this in dogs. The evidence available suggests that monkeys are less sensitive to hepatotoxicity with this drug than dogs.
Tetrandrine is abis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid that has been found inR. stephaniaroots and has diverse biological activities. It induces autophagy in HeLa, MCF-7, and human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cells when used at a concentration of 5 μM, an effect that can be reversed by the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine . Tetrandrine inhibits PAF-, thrombin-, collagen-, ADP-, or epinephrine-induced aggregation of isolated human platelets. Priming of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with tetrandrine (5 and 10 μM) reduces TNF-α secretion by RAW 264.7 cells in co-culture. Ear skin transplantation of tetrandrine-primed MSCs decreases ear levels of TNF-α in a mouse model of ear skin inflammation. Tetrandrine (1 mg/kg) increases soleus muscle levels of glucose transporter 4 (Glut4) and decreases plasma glucose levels in a rat model of diabetes induced by streptozotocin .
White powder