Cyclopamine

Cyclopamine (11-deoxojervine) is naturally-occurring chemical that belongs to the group of steroidal jerveratrum alkaloids. It is a teratogen isolated from the corn lily (Veratrum californicum) that can lead to cyclopia (holoprosencephaly).

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Cyclopamine inhibits the hedgehog signaling pathway (Hh) by influencing the balance between the active and inactive forms of the Smoothened protein. Cyclopamine is currently being investigated as a treatment agent in basal cell carcinoma, medulloblastoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma, tumors that result from excessive Hh activity ^[1], glioblastoma, and as a treatment agent for multiple myeloma.

Cyclopamine was named for one-eyed lambs which were born to sheep which grazed on wild corn lily at a farm in Idaho. In 1957 the US Department of Agriculture started an eleven year investigation which led to the identification of cyclopamine as the cause of the birth defect.^[2]

See also

Patient trial conducted in Dallas, Texas through APQ research center. Myeloma patient was given 200 mg of cyclopamine daily for two 2 weeks, for four times or every 3 months over a year, August 2006-August 2007. M marker was measured and decreased from 1.0 to 0.2 during that time.

Two new Cyclopamine like Alkaloids have been discoverd by Logan Natural Products ( www.logannaturalproducts.com ), their Hydrochloride salts are stable and water soluble. They have been named Amkurdamine and Bijaramine.Initial results exibits activity against Lung Cancer Cell , with positive inhibitory effect toward the Hedgehog Signaling pathway.

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