Indirubin

Indirubin is a naturally occurring compound found in various plants, including woad (Isatis tinctoria). It is a bis-indole alkaloid, specifically a red isomer of indigo, with the chemical formula C16H10N2O2. Indirubin is known for its distinctive red color and has been used traditionally in Chinese medicine.

Alfa Chemistry offers high-quality indirubin for research and development purposes.

Product Detail

Product Name	Indirubin
CAS No.	479-41-4
Catalog	ALKS479414
Molecular Weight	262.26
Molecular Formula	C16H10N2O2
Purity	≥ 98%
Appearance	Red crystalline powder
Solubility	Soluble in organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, DMSO, etc.
Application	Used for content determination, identification, pharmacological experiments, activity screening, etc.
Storage	Refrigerate at 4 °C, seal tightly, and avoid light (valid for 2 years under this condition)

Applications of Indirubin

Cancer Therapy

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML): Indirubin is a key active component of Danggui Longhui Wan, a traditional Chinese medicine used for treating CML. It inhibits the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), which are crucial for cancer cell proliferation.
Other Cancers: Indirubin and its derivatives have shown promise in treating various other cancers, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer, due to their ability to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) and inhibit cell growth.

Inflammatory Diseases

Indirubin has anti-inflammatory properties and is used in treating conditions such as psoriasis. It inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators, reducing inflammation.

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Studies suggest that indirubin may have therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases due to its ability to inhibit GSK-3, a kinase involved in tau phosphorylation and amyloid-beta production.

Mechanism of Action

The biological activities of indirubin are mainly attributed to its ability to modulate various signaling pathways and molecular targets, including:

Inhibition of Cyclin-Dependent Kinases (CDKs):

Indirubin inhibits CDKs, particularly CDK2 and CDK9, which are essential for cell cycle progression. By binding to the ATP-binding sites of these kinases, indirubin prevents their activity, leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in cancer cells.

Inhibition of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 (GSK-3)

GSK-3 is involved in various cellular processes, including glycogen metabolism, cell differentiation, and apoptosis. Indirubin inhibits GSK-3, which can prevent the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein in Alzheimer's disease and reduce cell proliferation in cancer.

Modulation of Signal Transduction Pathways

NF-κB Pathway: Indirubin can inhibit the NF-κB pathway, which plays a crucial role in inflammation and immune responses. This inhibition leads to reduced production of inflammatory cytokines and mediators.
STAT3 Pathway: Indirubin inhibits the activation of STAT3, a transcription factor involved in cell survival and proliferation. This inhibition can lead to reduced cancer cell growth and induction of apoptosis.

Induction of Apoptosis

Indirubin induces apoptosis in cancer cells by modulating the expression of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins. It can increase the expression of Bax (a pro-apoptotic protein) and decrease the expression of Bcl-2 (an anti-apoptotic protein), leading to programmed cell death.

Inhibition of Angiogenesis

Indirubin inhibits the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) by targeting pathways such as VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) signaling. This can restrict the blood supply to tumors, inhibiting their growth.

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