It has anti-inflammatory, immunologic and antiallergenic effects. It inhibits the degranulation of
mast cells. It has a
quinidine-like anti-arrhythmic effect. It has
vasodilatory properties and can therefore reduce blood pressure. Tetrandrine may have potential use for the treatment of liver disease and liver cancer. Tetrandrine has potential therapeutic value to prevent excess scarring/fibrosis in conjunctiva following
trabeculectomy or in patients with severe
conjunctival inflammation. Tetrandrine has anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrogenic actions, which make tetrandrine and related compounds potentially useful in the treatment of
lung silicosis, liver cirrhosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Tetrandrine has also been shown to inhibit entry of
Ebola virus into host cells
in vitro and showed therapeutic efficacy against Ebola in preliminary studies on mice. Tetrandrine has also been studied and patented as a possible treatment for
tinnitus. ==Biosynthesis==