Mezerein is a chemical compound with antileukemic properties and acts as a PKC activator. It effectively inhibits the growth of yeast expressing PKC alpha (IC 50 = 1190 nM), PKC beta1 (IC 50 = 908 nM), and PKC delta (IC 50 = 141 nM). However, it does not inhibit the growth of yeast expressing PKC.

Mezerein, an antileukemic compound extracted from Daphne mezereum L, has demonstrated significant efficacy in inhibiting the proliferation of the tumorigenic murine macrophage cell line M5076, as shown in a Cell Proliferation Assay. When M5076 cells were treated with a concentration of 50 ng/mL of Mezerein for 72 hours, cellular proliferation was impeded by more than 90%.

Mezerein demonstrates significant antileukemic effects, specifically inhibiting P-388 lymphocytic leukemia and showing considerable activity against both P-388 and L-1210 leukemias in mice at a dosage of 50 μg/kg[2].