Cryptotanshinone is a potent STAT3 inhibitor with IC₅₀ of 4.6 μM, and inhibits STAT3 Tyr705 phosphorylation in DU145 prostate cancer cells.

Cryptotanshinone significantly inhibits STAT3-dependent luciferase activity, the STAT3 Tyr705 phosphorylation and the dimerization of STAT3, compared to tanshinone IIA which exhibits no activity. Cryptotanshinone (7 μM) dramatically blocks STAT3 Tyr705 phosphorylation but not STAT3 Ser727 phosphorylation in DU145 cells, and significantly inhibits JAK2 phosphorylation with IC₅₀ of appr 5 μM without affecting the phosphorylation of upstream kinases c-Src and EGFR, suggesting the inhibition of STAT3 Tyr705 phosphorylation might due to a direct mechanism probably by binding to the SH2 domain of STAT3. Cryptotanshinone significantly inhibits the proliferation of DU145 prostate cancer cells harboring constitutively active STAT3 with GI₅₀ of 7 μM by blocking STAT3 activity, which leads to the down-regulation of cyclin D1, Bcl-xL, and survivin, subsequently the accumulation in the G0-G1 phase. Cryptotanshinone exhibits less growth inhibitory effect on PC3, LNCaP and MDA-MB-468 cells^[1]. Cryptotanshinone significantly attenuates the in vitro hormonal effects of DEX on ovaries, as indicated by a significant decrease in T and an increase in P levels in the culture medium. Cryptotanshinone significantly increases the levels of phosphorylated AKT2 and GSK3β in the DEX-treated ovaries^[2]. Cotreatment with imatinib and Cryptotanshinone shows a significant synergistic killing effect in both imatinib sensitive and resistant CML cell lines, as well as primary CML cells^[3].

Cryptotanshinone reverses the ovarian IR and significantly increases 2-deoxy-D-[1,2-³H]-glucose uptake in all examined tissues from the DEX-treated mice. Cryptotanshinone significantly reduces the ovulation rate and plasma E2 and P levels^[2]. Cryptotanshinone administration significantly reduces the body weight and food intake of ob/ob mice (C57BL/6J-Lepob) and diet-induced obese (DIO) mice in a dose-dependent manner. Cryptotanshinone causes noticeably less fat in the adipose tissues, significant reductions of serum triglycerides and cholesterol levels, and 2.5- to 3-fold higher AMPK activity of the skeletal muscles than in the control mice. Oral administration of Cryptotanshinone at 600 mg/kg/day produces dramatic reductions in blood glucose levels of ob/ob mice (C57BL/6J-Lepob), db/db mice (C57BL/KsJ-Leprdb), and ZDF rats, which occur after 3 days and persist over the entirety of the monitoring period^[4].

• [1]. Shin DS, et al. Cryptotanshinone inhibits constitutive signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 function through blocking the dimerization in DU145 prostate cancer cells. Cancer Res. 2009 Jan 1;69(1):193-202.

  [2]. Huang Y, et al. Cryptotanshinone reverses ovarian insulin resistance in mice through activation of insulin signaling and the regulation of glucose transporters and hormone synthesizing enzymes. Fertil Steril. 2014 Aug;102(2):589-596.e4.

  [3]. Ge Y, et al. Cryptotanshinone acts synergistically with imatinib to induce apoptosis of human chronic myeloid leukemia cells. Leuk Lymphoma. 2014 Jun 25:1-9.

  [4]. Kim EJ, et al. Antidiabetes and antiobesity effect of cryptotanshinone via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase. Mol Pharmacol. 2007 Jul;72(1):62-72. Epub 2007 Apr 11.