ReviewPhytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology2019
Cepharanthine: An update of its mode of action, pharmacological properties and medical applications.
Review in Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 109 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
109 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 206 citations in OpenAlex.
- Roles of mitochondrial fusion and fission in breast cancer progression: a systematic review.World journal of surgical oncology · 2022Pooled it
- Safety and efficacy of oral administrated cepharanthine in non-hospitalized, asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 patients: a Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial : Author detials.Scientific reports · 2025Trial
- Targeted Cepharanthine-Mediated Dual-Pathway Inhibition Sensitizes Pancreatic Cancer to Gemcitabine.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Cepharanthine inhibits tick‑borne encephalitis virus infection through modulation of the stress and inflammation response.International journal of molecular medicine · 2026Article
- Cepharanthine Reduces Endometriosis Lesions and Alters Mitochondrial and Autophagy-Related Signals in Endometriotic Stromal Cells.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Further Investigations on Natural and Synthetic Bis-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) Derivatives Interacting with the Apamin-Sensitive Site of Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Endolysosomal two-pore channels regulate a conserved entry pathway for enteroviruses.The Journal of general virology · 2026Article
- Cepharanthine inhibits lysosomes and induces apoptosis in triple‑negative breast cancer cells.Molecular medicine reports · 2026Article
- Endothelial ferroptosis: a novel mechanism and therapeutic target in diabetic microvascular complications.Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.) · 2026Review
- Article
- Cepharanthine improves blood glucose levels and mitigates renal injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats via restoring pancreatic β-cell integrity and reducing inflammation.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Article
- Anticancer Effects of Cepharanthine: an Updated Minireview.Journal of Cancer · 2026Review
- Metabolic analysis of MYB30 that regulates iron deficiency stress inFrontiers in plant science · 2026Article
- Targeting autophagy and metabolism for ewing sarcoma.Molecular biology reports · 2025Review
- Cepharanthine inhibits enterovirus entry by endolysosomal deacidification and exhibits protective activityAntimicrobial agents and chemotherapy · 2025Article
- Cepharanthine alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury through modulating macrophage polarization.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Cepharanthine inhibits the proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of oral squamous cell carcinoma via HMGA2/FOXL2 axis.BMC pharmacology & toxicology · 2025Article
- Article
- Cepharanthine InhibitsMicroorganisms · 2025Article
- High-Throughput Screens of Repurposing Hub and DOS Chemical Libraries Reveal Compounds with Novel and Potent Inhibitory Activity Against the Essential Non-Neuronal Acetylcholinesterase ofInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
49 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCepharanthine (CEP) is a drug used in Japan since the 1950s to treat a number of acute and chronic diseases, including treatment of leukopenia, snake bites, xerostomia and alopecia. It is the only approved drug for Human use in the large class of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids. This natural product, mainly isolated from the plant Stephania cephalantha Hayata, exhibits multiple pharmacological properties including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, immuno-regulatory, anti-cancer, anti-viral and anti-parasitic properties. PURPOSE: The mechanism of action of CEP is multifactorial. The drug exerts membrane effects (modulation of efflux pumps, membrane rigidification) as well as different intracellular and nuclear effects. CEP interferes with several metabolic axes, primarily with the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and NFκB signaling pathways. In particular, the anti-inflammatory effects of CEP rely on AMPK activation and NFκB inhibition.
conclusionIn this review, the historical discovery and development of CEP are retraced, and the key mediators involved in its mode of action are presented. The past, present, and future of CEP are recapitulated. This review also suggests new opportunities to extend the clinical applications of this well-tolerated old Japanese drug.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.