Luffariellolide is a natural sesterterpenoid which reversibly inhibits secretory phospholipase A2 isoforms from bee venom (IC50 = 230 nM) and snake venom, reducing inflammation. It blocks the production of platelet-activating factor in stimulated neutrophils (IC50 = 5 μM). Luffariellolide is also a structural mimic of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) and, at 1 μM, acts as an agonist for the RA receptors RAR α, β, and γ but not for other nuclear receptors. In RA-sensitive cancer cell lines, luffariellolide induces the expression of RAR target genes and inhibits cell growth. It also inhibits the activation of hypoxia-inducible factor by hypoxia (IC50 = 3.6 μM).
