Hemin induces the activity of the enzyme heme-oxygenase. Heme oxygenase catalyzes the conversion of heme to biliverdin, CO and Fe+3. The induction of heme oxygenase activity has been associated with reduced free radical formation and inflammation, vascular repair, and implicated in tumor growth and metastasis. Hemin has been shown to be effective at 75 μmol/kg in mice or 5 μM for cells in culture.
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