cephalomannine

Cephalomannine is a naturally occurring **taxane diterpenoid** structurally related to paclitaxel, isolated from various Taxus (yew) species including Taxus yunnanensis and Taxus wallichiana[1][2][4][8][13][18]. It exhibits antitumor and antiproliferative activity by binding to and stabilizing microtubules, which inhibits their depolymerization[4][16]. This leads to arrested mitosis at the G2/M phase and renders it cytotoxic to rapidly dividing cells, particularly cancer cells[4][16]. Cephalomannine induces cell death and has shown potent inhibition of cell proliferation in vitro, with demonstrated activity against cancers including **glioblastoma** and leukemia, in part by promoting autophagy[3][7]. While closely related to paclitaxel, cephalomannine differs at the amide side chain and is considered a natural congener; it has historically been used in research with potential as a chemotherapeutic agent, but is not approved for clinical use in humans[3][10].

Other names

cephalomannineTAXOL BNSC 318735NSC318735NSC-318735Paclitaxel Impurity BPaclitaxel harringine