Paxilline (CAS: 57186-25-1)

Paxilline is a tremorgenic indole-diterpene metabolite originally isolated from Penicillium paxilli and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. It functions as a potent and relatively selective blocker of large-conductance Ca2+-activated potassium (BKCa) channels and has become a standard pharmacological tool in electrophysiology. Recent studies also demonstrate inhibition of KCNK18 channels, contributing to sensory neuron activation. Beyond its well-known tremor-inducing neurotoxicity, paxilline is increasingly investigated in cancer and autophagy signaling contexts. Paxilline remains a reference compound for potassium channel modulation and structure-activity studies of indole diterpenes.