Ellipticine is a knownintercalator, capable of entering a DNA strand between base pairs. In its intercalated state, ellipticine binds strongly[9] and lies parallel to the base pairs,[10] increasing thesuperhelical density of the DNA.[11] Intercalated ellipticine binds directly totopoisomerase II, anenzyme involved inDNA replication,[12] inhibiting the enzyme and resulting in powerful antitumour activity.[10] In clinical trials, ellipticine derivatives have been observed to induceremission oftumour growth, but are not used for medical purposes due to their hightoxicity; side effects includenausea andvomiting,hypertension,cramp, pronouncedfatigue, mouth dryness, andmycosis of the tongue andoesophagus.[13]
Further DNA damage results from the formation of covalentDNA adducts following enzymatic activation of ellipticine by withcytochromesP450 andperoxidases, meaning that ellipticine is classified as aprodrug.[14]
^Miller, R B; Dugar, S (1989). "A regiospecific total synthesis of ellipticine via nitrene insertion".Tetrahedron Letters.30 (3):297–300.doi:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)95184-0.ISSN0040-4039.
^Sbai, M; Ait Lyazidi, S; Lerner, D A; del Castillo, B; Martin, M A (1996). "Use of micellar media for the fluorimetric determination of ellipticine in aqueous solutions".Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis.14 (8):959–965.doi:10.1016/S0731-7085(96)01759-1.ISSN0731-7085.PMID8818001.
^Paoletti, C; Le Pecq, J B; Dat-Xuong, N; Juret, P; Garnier, H; Amiel, J L; Rouesse, J (1980). "Antitumor Activity, Pharmacology, and Toxicity of Ellipticines, Ellipticinium, and 9-Hydroxy Derivatives: Preliminary Clinical Trials of 2-Methyl-9-Hydroxy Ellipticinium (NSC 264-137)".Cancer Chemo- and Immunopharmacology. Recent Results in Cancer Research. Vol. 74. pp. 107–123.doi:10.1007/978-3-642-81488-4_15.ISBN978-3-642-81490-7.ISSN0080-0015.PMID7003658.{{cite book}}:|journal= ignored (help)
^Stiborová, M; Poljaková, J; Martínková, E; Ulrichová, J; Šimánek, V; Dvořák, Z; Frei, E (2012). "Ellipticine oxidation and DNA adduct formation in human hepatocytes is catalyzed by human cytochromes P450 and enhanced by cytochrome b5".Toxicology.302 (2–3):233–241.Bibcode:2012Toxgy.302..233S.doi:10.1016/j.tox.2012.08.004.ISSN0300-483X.PMID22917556.