Chemical Properties
Off-white powder
Uses
DL-α-Difluoromethylornithine hydrochloride hydrate has been used to reduce the effects of arginine on cell proliferation. It has also been used to investigate the effect of bisphenol A (BPA) on the migration of an established ovine trophectoderm (oTr1) cell line.
Definition
ChEBI: Eflornithine is a fluoroamino acid that is ornithine substituted by a difluoromethyl group at position 2. It has a role as a trypanocidal drug. It is a fluoroamino acid and an alpha-amino acid. It is functionally related to an ornithine.
General Description
Difluoromethylornithine is afluorinated ornithine analog, which acts as a rate-limiting enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis. It is used to treat female facial hirsutism and human African trypanosomiasis. Difluoromethylornithine functions as a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent against neuroblastoma and colorectal cancer. It exhibits cytostaticeffects on mammalian cells and tissues.
Biological Activity
Inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase that inhibits polyamine biosynthesis. Displays antiapoptotic, antiangiogenic and antiparasitic activity.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Difluoromethylornithine (Eflornithine) inhibits polyamine biosynthesis by the selective, irreversible inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). A chemoprotective agent that blocks angiogenesis.
