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Research progress on pharmacological effects and mechanisms of cepharanthine and its derivatives

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Abstract

Cepharanthine (CEP) is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid compound found in plants of the Stephania genus, which has biological functions such as regulating autophagy, inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. It is often used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, viral infections, cancer, and immune disorders and has great clinical translational value. However, there is no detailed research on its specific mechanism and dosage and administration methods, especially clinical research is limited. In recent years, CEP has shown significant effects in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, suggesting its potential medicinal value waiting to be discovered. In this article, we comprehensively introduce the molecular structure of CEP and its derivatives, describe in detail the pharmacological mechanisms of CEP in various diseases, and discuss how to chemically modify and design CEP to improve its bioavailability. In summary, this work will provide a reference for further research and clinical application of CEP.

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National Natural Science Foundation of China (82260893), project supported by Gansu Provincial Department of Education (2022B-116), Gansu Province Industrial Support and Guidance Special Project (2020C-15), Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province (20JR5RA180), Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescription Drug Mining and Innovation Transformation Open Fund (zyzx-2020-11), “Innovation Star” Project of Outstanding Graduate Students in Gansu Province (2022 CXZX-735).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China

    Liangliang Shi, Shuaizhe Wang, Shangzu Zhang, Jiawei Wang, Yaping Chen, Yangyang Li, Zhiwei Liu, Sichen Zhao, Benjun Wei & Liying Zhang

  2. Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Exploration and Innovation Transformation in Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China

    Liying Zhang

  3. Key Laboratory of Dunhuang Medicine and Transformation at Provincial and Ministerial Level, Lanzhou, China

    Benjun Wei

Authors
  1. Liangliang Shi
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  2. Shuaizhe Wang
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  3. Shangzu Zhang
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  4. Jiawei Wang
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  5. Yaping Chen
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  6. Yangyang Li
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  7. Zhiwei Liu
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  8. Sichen Zhao
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  9. Benjun Wei
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  10. Liying Zhang
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Contributions

Liangliang Shi and Shuaizhe Wang contributed equally to this work. Wei Benjun and Liying Zhang: writing—review and editing. Wang Jiawei, Zhang Shangzu, Chen Yaping, Li Yangyang, Liu Zhiwei, Zhao Sichen: good suggestions were made on the revision of the manuscript. The authors confirm that no paper mill and artificial intelligence was used.

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Correspondence to Benjun Wei or Liying Zhang.

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Shi, L., Wang, S., Zhang, S. et al. Research progress on pharmacological effects and mechanisms of cepharanthine and its derivatives. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 396, 2843–2860 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-023-02537-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-023-02537-y

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