Helenalin is a selective inhibitor of transcription factor NF-κB by direct targeting of p65. It is an anti-inflammatory sesquiterpene lactone compound with alkylating activity. Through its ability to target the cysteine sulfhydryl groups in the p65 subunit of NF-κB, helenalin effectively inhibits its DNA binding.
Inactivation of the tumor suppressor p53 commonly coincides with increased signaling through NF-κB in cancer. CAY10681 is a dual modulator of p53-MDM2 interaction and NF-κB signaling. It potently binds MDM2 (Ki = 250 nM), reducing MDM2-mediated turnover of p53. CAY10681 also inhibits phosphorylation of IκBα and dose-dependently reduces nuclear accumulation of p65. It blocks the proliferation of cancer cell lines (IC50s range from 33 to 37 μM). CAY10681 exhibits excellent oral bioavailability and inhibits tumor growth in A549 xenografts in nude mice.
Benpyrine is a highly specific and orally active TNF-α inhibitor with a KD value of 82.1 μM. Benpyrine tightly binds to TNF-α and blocks its interaction with TNFR1, with an IC50 value of 0.109 μM. Benpyrine has the potential for TNF-α mediated inflammatory and autoimmune disease research[1]. Benpyrine (5-20 μM; 14 hours; RAW264.7 cells) pretreatment results in a dose-dependent decrease in the phosphorylation of IκBα in RAW264.7 cells (stimulated with 10 ng mL TNF-α or 1 μg mL LPS). Benpyrine abolishes the TNF-α-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in RAW264.7 cells[1].Benpyrine only blocks cell death induced by TNF-αWT and Y119A, and increases the cell survival rate up to 80%. Benpyrine does not obviously affect L57A- and Y59L-induced cytotoxicity in L929 cells[1]. Benpyrine (25-50 mg kg; oral gavage; daily; for 2 weeks; Balb c mice) treatment significantly relieves the symptoms of collagen-induced arthritis. Benpyrine dose-dependently decreases the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IFN-γ, IL-1β and IL-6, and increases the concentration of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10[1].Endotoxemia murine model shows that Benpyrine (25 mg kg) could attenuate TNF-α-induced inflammation, thereby reducing liver and lung injury[1]. [1]. Weiguang Sun, et al. Discovery of an Orally Active Small Molecule TNF-α Inhibitor. J Med Chem. 2020 Jul 15.