Neferine

Neferine is a major bisbenzylisoquinline alkaloid. Neferine strongly inhibits NF-κB activation. IC50 & Target: NF-κB^[1] In Vitro: Neferine down regulates hypoxia induced NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and COX-2 expressions^[1]. Neferine reduces high-glucose-induced collagen production and inhibits TGF-β1-Smad, ERK and p38 MAPK signaling activation in cardiac fibroblasts. Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) are cultured in HG medium with varying concentrations of Neferine (1, 2, or 5 μM). CCK-8 assays are carried out at different time points (24, 48, and 72 h). Compared with normal glucose (NG) and osmotic control (OC) treatments, High glucose (30 mM) treatment significantly increases the proliferation of CFs in a time-dependent manner (P<0.05). High glucose (HG)-induced CF proliferation is markedly attenuated by Neferine treatment at either 2 or 5 μM compared with vehicle treatment. However, 1 μM Neferine does not inhibit HG-induced proliferation of CFs. Therefore, 2 and 5 μM Neferine are used in the remaining experiments^[2]. In Vivo: Neferine treatment at both low-dose (60 mg/kg/day by gavage) and high-dose (120 mg/kg/day by gavage) reduces the increment of collagen I, III and TGF-β1 protein expression induced by hyperglycemia^[2].