These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: From teratogens to potential therapeutics: natural inhibitors of the Hedgehog signaling network come of age.
    Author: Hovhannisyan A, Matz M, Gebhardt R.
    Journal: Planta Med; 2009 Oct; 75(13):1371-80. PubMed ID: 19639534.
    Abstract:
    Steroidal alkaloids from Veratrum californicum (Durand) are known to exert teratogenic effects (e.g., cyclopia, holoprosencephaly) by blocking the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, which plays a considerable role in embryonic development and organogenesis. Most surprisingly, recent studies demonstrate that this complex signaling network is active even in the healthy adult organism, where it seems to control important aspects of basic metabolism and interorgan homeostasis. Abnormal activation of Hh signaling, however, can lead to the development of different tumors, psoriasis, and other diseases. This review provides an overview of how the principle teratogenic and hazardous constituent of Veratrum californicum, cyclopamine, interferes with Hh signaling and can potentially serve as a beneficial therapeutic for different tumors and psoriasis.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]