Cefotaxime Sodium

While Cefotaxime sodium (CTX) has been shown to inhibit tyrosinase activity, its effect on melanogenesis had not been fully elucidated until recently. Hu et al. analyzed CTX and its mechanisms in B16F10 cells (mouse melanoma cell line) and zebrafish. Their data concluded CTX mostly targeted and inhibited the cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway. CTX led to decreases in cAMP concentration which downregulated PKA and CREB phosphorylation. CTX also led to partial regulation of MAPK and AKT pathway expression which decreased expression of p-p38. Taken all together these changes resulted in decreased protein expression of MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, and TYR which inhibited tyrosinase activity and decreased melanin synthesis.

Fig. 1 The inhibition mechanism of CTX on melanin synthesis. (Yonghua Hu.; et al. 2021)

Sepsis caused by infection is a dangerous disease characterized by life-threatening organ dysfunction and is one of the most fatal diseases worldwide. Meng et al. developed a combinatorial therapy using probenecid nanocrystals (Prob NCs) and cefotaxime sodium (CTX) to treat sepsis. Probenecid NCs were able to inhibit NETosis through the blockade of ATP release and ROS production, halting immune thrombosis formation. Cefotaxime sodium was used to combat the bacteria responsible for the sepsis. The researchers found that combinatorial treatment resolved bacterial infection and reduced hyperinflammation as well as inhibited immune thrombosis formation, suggesting that it is a viable method to treat sepsis. This treatment was found to be safe and translatable to clinical use in vivo.

Fig. 2 Schematic illustration of the therapeutic mechanism of combination therapy with probenecid nanocrystals and cefotaxime sodium in combating sepsis. (Meng, Zhengjie.; et al. 2025)