Substance P (1-9) is a nonapeptide that reduces the inactivation of substance P in the guinea-pig ileum and urinary bladder, and is responsible for various excitatory effects on central and peripheral neurons.
Benzomalvin C is a weak antagonist of the neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor inhibiting binding of substance P by 46% when used at 100 μg ml in vitro. It is also a weak inhibitor of indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) with an IC50 value of 130 μM for recombinant IDO. It was isolated from Penicillium and contains an epoxide group at C-19 and C-20, which is not present in benzomalvins A, B, or E.