Benproperine is an antitussive agent and actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 2 (ARPC2) inhibitor.1,2 It increases the latency to first cough and decreases the number of coughs during and after a citric acid aerosol challenge in a guinea pig model of cough when administered at a dose of 27 mg/kg.1 It binds to ARPC2 and delays the initiation of actin polymerization in the presence of actin, the Arp2/3 complex, and the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) VCA domain, but not actin alone, when used at a concentration of 10 ?M.2 Benproperine (1-10 ?M) inhibits the migration and invasion of DLD-1 and AsPC-1 cancer cells and reduces lung metastasis in an AsPC-1 mouse model of metastasis when administered at a dose of 50 m/kg. Formulations containing benproperine have been used as cough suppressants.
1.Li, Y., Zhong, D.F., Chen, S.W.C., et al.Identification of some benproperine metabolites in humans and investigation of their antitussive effectActa Pharmacol. Sin.26(12)1519-1526(2005) 2.Yoon, Y.J., Han, Y.-M., Choi, J., et al.Benproperine, an ARPC2 inhibitor, suppresses cancer cell migration and tumor metastasisBiochem. Pharmacol.16346-59(2019)