bufothionine

Bufothionine is an indole alkaloid and a major bioactive component of Cinobufacini (also known as Huachansu), a traditional Chinese medicine extracted from the skin and parotid venom glands of the toad *Bufo bufo gargarizans*. It is primarily recognized for its potent anti-tumor activities, particularly against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The compound exerts its therapeutic effects by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, which leads to the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 and the induction of both mitochondria-mediated apoptosis and autophagy. Research indicates that bufothionine upregulates key autophagy-related proteins, including Atg5, Atg7, and LC3-II, thereby promoting programmed cell death in malignant cells. While the parent Cinobufacini injection is approved in China for treating various cancers, bufothionine itself is a subject of ongoing research to elucidate the specific molecular mechanisms of toad venom-derived alkaloids.

Other names

bufothionine