Caspase

Destruxin B, isolated from entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, is one of the cyclodepsipeptides with insecticidal and anticancer activities. Destruxin B induces apoptosis via a Bcl-2 Family-dependent mitochondrial pathway in human nonsmall cell lung cancer cells.

Lycopodine, a pharmacologically important bioactive component derived from Lycopodium clavatumspores, triggers apoptosis by modulating 5-lipoxygenase, and depolarizing mitochondrial membrane potential in refractory prostate cancer cells without modulating p53 activity. Lycopodine inhibits proliferation of HeLa cells through induction of apoptosis via caspase-3 activation.

ZYZ-488 is a competitive apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1) inhibitor, which inhibits the activation of binding protein procaspase-9 and procaspase-3.