6-methoxydihydroavicine

6-methoxydihydroavicine (6ME) is a naturally occurring benzophenanthridine alkaloid, primarily found in plants of the Papaveraceae family, that is being investigated for its selective anti-leukemic properties. It functions as a potent inhibitor of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARδ), a transcription factor involved in lipid homeostasis and metabolic regulation. By binding to PPARδ, 6ME suppresses the expression of downstream targets such as CD36, CPT2, and UCP3, which are critical components of the fatty acid oxidation (FAO) pathway. This inhibition impairs mitochondrial respiration in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells, leading to selective cell death. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that 6ME significantly reduces AML cell engraftment in vivo without affecting normal hematopoietic cells, highlighting its potential as a novel metabolic-targeted therapy for AML.

Other names

6-methoxydihydroavicine