Indirubin

Indirubin is a chemical compound that is a component of indigo naturalis, a traditional Chinese medicine. It is an organic compound and is classified as an alkaloid. Indirubin is the active ingredient in Danggui Longhui Wan, a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat chronic myelocytic leukemia.

Chemical Structure

Indirubin is a bisindole, meaning it has two indole groups. Its chemical formula is C16H10N2O2. The structure of indirubin is similar to that of indigo dye, but it has an additional oxygen atom.

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Chemical structure of indirubin

Pharmacology

Indirubin has been shown to inhibit cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), which are important for cell cycle regulation. This makes it a potential treatment for cancer, as uncontrolled cell growth is a hallmark of cancer. Indirubin also has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects, which could make it useful in treating autoimmune diseases.

Clinical Use

Indirubin is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat chronic myelocytic leukemia. It is also being investigated for use in treating other types of cancer, as well as neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Safety

While indirubin has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, its safety profile is not well-studied. Some studies have suggested that it may have toxic effects on the liver and other organs.

See Also

• Indigo naturalis
• Danggui Longhui Wan
• Chronic myelocytic leukemia
• Alzheimer's disease
• Parkinson's disease