SUPPRESSION OF HUMAN MONOCYTE INTERLEUKIN-1 PRODUCTION BY THE PLANT ALKALOID TETRANDRINE

  • 1 January 1989
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 75  (1) , 47-51
Abstract
The bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, tetrandine, was shown to affect some important human monocyte functions. The drug caused significant inhibition of random movement, chemotaxis, superoxide anion generation and interleukin 1 (IL-1) production. By contrast, degranulation and hexose-monophosphate shunt activity were unaffected. Tetrandrine may be a value in the treatment of chronic inflammatory disease where IL-1 has a major role as an inflammatory mediator.