Bisbenzylisoquinoline Alkaloids from Stephania Cepharantha and Their Effects on Proliferation of Cultured Cells from the Murine Hair Apparatus

The study investigated the effects of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids isolated from Stephania cepharantha on the proliferation of cultured hair cells from murine skin. The alkaloids cepharanthine, cepharanoline, isotetrandrine, and berbamine demonstrated significant proliferative activities at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 0.1 µg/ml. However, these compounds did not exhibit any activity on cultured keratinocytes or fibroblasts from murine skin, indicating a specific effect on hair cells.