L-Mimosine (Leucenol) is an antineoplastic alanine-substituted pyridine derivative isolated from Leucena glauca and acts as an iron chelator.

L-Mimosine arrests the cell cycle at the G1 phase in PC-3 cells and at the S phase in LNCaP cells, thus attenuating cell proliferation. [1] L-Mimosine, as a prolyl hydroxylase (PHD) inhibitor, stimulates VEGF production, and increases their proangiogenic capacity in dental pulp-derived cells. [2]

L-mimosine (50 mg/kg i.p.) substantially upregulates HIF-1alpha expression in the kidneys, and remarkably enhances the natriuretic response to renal perfusion pressure in Sprague-Dawley rats. [3]

Cell proliferation in response to L-mimosine is measured using a [3H]thymidine incorporation assay. In this assay, 1 × 104 cells are cultured in each well of a 12-well plate in RPMI-1640 medium with 10% FCS and different concentrations (0–800 μM) of L-mimosine. After the required incubation periods (24 and 48 h), 0.5 μCi/ml of [3H]thymidine is added to each well of the 12-well plate. The cells are then incubated at 37°C in a humidified 5% CO2 atmosphere for 4 h. Cells are then washed twice with cold phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and then with cold 5% trichloroacetic acid. Cells are lysed by adding 0.5 ml of 0.5 N NaOH. Then 400 μl of the solubilized cell solution are mixed with 4 ml of scintillation cocktail and counted in a liquid scintillation analyzer . Each sample was tested in quadruplicate.(Only for Reference)