Conophylline is a vinca alkaloid extracted from leaves of a tropical plant Ervatamia microphylla. Conophylline is a differentiation inducer of for pancreatic cells. Conophylline suppresses HSC and induces apoptosis^[1][2]. In Vitro: Conophylline (100 ng/ml; 48 hours) reproduces differentiationinducing activity but not apoptosis-inducing activity of activin^[1].
Conophylline (100 ng/ml; 72 hours) exhibits the differentiation-inducing activity in AR42J cells and converts these cells to endocrine cells^[1].
Conophylline increases the expression of neurogenin-3 by activating p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase to induce differentiation of AR42J cells^[1].
Conophylline reduces the expression of α-SMA and collagen-1 in rat HSC and Lx-2 cells^[2].
Conophylline inhibits DNA synthesis induced by serum^[2].
Conophylline also promots activation of caspase-3 and induces apoptosis in Lx-2 Cells^[2].
In Vivo: Conophylline (0.9 mg/kg; p.o.; daily; for 12 weeks) attenuates formation of the liver fibrosis induced by TAA in vivo^[2].