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. 1990 May;80(2):232–235. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1990.tb05239.x

Tetrandrine, a plant alkaloid, inhibits the production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (cachectin) hy human monocytes.

A Ferrante 1, W K Seow 1, B Rowan-Kelly 1, Y H Thong 1
PMCID: PMC1535282  PMID: 2357850

Abstract

Human mononuclear leucocytes (MNL) or the adherent fraction (monocytes) produced tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) (by ELISA) in culture when stimulated with killed Staphylococcus aureus. The bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, tetrandrine inhibited the capacity of MNL and monocytes to produce TNF-alpha at a concentration range of 0.1 to 5 micrograms/ml. Tetrandrine may be potentially useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases in which TNF-alpha plays a major role.

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Selected References

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