Haemanthamine is an alkaloid isolated from the Amaryllidaceae plants with potent anticancer activity. It inhibits protein biosynthesis during the elongation stage of translation. It has antimalarial, pro-apoptotic, antiviral, antioxidant, and anticonvulsa

Haemanthamine binds at the A-site cleft of the peptidyl transferase center on the large ribosomal subunit, creating unique molecular interactions with the 25S rRNA. Haemanthamine has a highly specific inhibitory effect on pre-rRNA processing, leading to the activation of a p53-dependent antitumoral surveillance pathway known as nucleolar stress.Haemanthamine (1-100 μM; 24-48 hours; A2780 cells) treatment shows a time- and dose-dependent decrease in cell viability. Haemanthamine (10 μM; 24-72 hours; A2780 cells) treatment leads to a significant inhibition of A2780 cell proliferation.

A pharmacokinetic study on Haemanthamine in rats indicates a swift distribution phase lasting 30 minutes, followed by a half-life of 70.4 minutes, primarily undergoing renal clearance. The extensive distribution volume of 13.7 L/kg implies robust intracellular penetration, with plasma concentrations exceeding 1 μM for over an hour following a single 10-mg/kg dose.