Clofazimine

Clofazimine is an active phenazine composed of an imino group and aromatic tricyclic heterocycles that is used as an antimycobacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer compound. It has been shown to be a potent in vivo antimycobacterial agent toward Mycobacterium leprae and in vitro to Mycobacterium avium.

As an anti-inflammatory, clofazimine inhibits reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation within neutrophils by inhibiting myeloperoxidase catalyzed reactions. The formed ROS are responsible for activating tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin 8 (IL8), which are inflammatory cytokines.