apoptosis inducer BZL101

An orally active aqueuous extract derived from the plant Scutellaria barbata with potential antineoplastic activity. Sparing normal cells, apoptosis inducer BZL101 specifically facilitates translocation of the protein apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from the mitochondrial membrane into the nucleus in tumor cells, thereby causing tumor cell-specific chromatin condensation and DNA degradation followed by the induction of caspase-independent apoptosis. AIF is both a mitochondrial intermembrane flavoprotein with oxidoreductase activity and a caspase-independent deatheffector that, similar to cytochrome c, is released from mitochondria earlyin the apoptotic process.