Zinc Protoporphyrin

Zinc Protoporphyrin (Zn(II)-protoporphyrin IX) is an orally active and competitive heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) inhibitor and markedly attenuates the protective effects of Phloroglucinol (PG) against H₂O₂^[1]. Zinc Protoporphyrin is used as a screening marker of iron deficiency in individual pregnant women and children, but also to assess population iron status in combination with haemoglobin concentration^[2]. Zinc Protoporphyrin has anti-cancer activity^[3]. In Vitro: to increase in Protoporphyrin (Zn(II)-protoporphyrin IX; 5 μM; 72 hours) causes the fraction of late apoptotic and necrotic cells increasing from 10.9% in controls to 30.4% after 72 h^[3].
Zinc Protoporphyrin (1.25-40 μM; 48 or 72 hours) exerts cytostatic/cytotoxic effects against tumor cells^[3].
Zinc Protoporphyrin (2.5, 5 μM; 48 or 72 hours) results in dose- and time-dependent reduction of cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle^[3].
Zinc Protoporphyrin (1.25-40 μM; 48 hours) leads to the accumulation of cleaved (active) caspase-3^[3].
In Vivo: Zinc Protoporphyrin (12.5, 25, 50 mg/kg for i.p.; 12.5, 50 mg/kg for p.o.; from day 7 to 19) exerts dose-dependent antitumor effects manifested by the retardation of tumor growth^[3].