Propranolol hydrochloride is a non-selective beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist. It inhibits both β1AR (Ki=1.8nM) and β2AR (Ki=0.8nM). Propranolol hydrochloride reduces heart rate, myocardial contractility and cardiac output by competitively blocking β1 and β2 adrenergic receptors. Propranolol hydrochloride inhibits renin release. Propranolol hydrochloride can be used in research related to hypertension, exertional angina pectoris, supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, secondary prevention of myocardial infarction, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, tachycardia control in pheochromocytoma, rapid heart rate in hyperthyroidism, and migraine prophylaxis[1-4].
In vitro, treatment with 2.5-320μM Propranolol hydrochloride for 24 hours reduced cell viability and inhibited proliferation in human colorectal cancer HCT-116, HT-29, SW-480 and SW-620 cells. Propranolol hydrochloride suppressed colony formation and induced apoptosis[5]. Treatment with 100nM Propranolol hydrochloride combined with Newcastle disease virus for 48 hours reduced cell viability in CMT-U27 cells. Propranolol hydrochloride inhibited cell migration and matrix invasion ability, increased intracellular Newcastle disease virus HN protein expression, and decreased IFNα and IFNβ secretion and mRNA levels[6]. Treatment with 200μM Propranolol hydrochloride for 24-48 hours inhibited proliferation in MKN45 and NUGC3 cells. Newcastle disease virus induced G1 phase cell cycle arrest, increased the proportion of apoptotic cells, and suppressed cell migration ability[7].
In vivo, a single intraperitoneal injection of 10mg/kg Propranolol hydrochloride delayed the peak time of cortical spreading depression propagation in C57BL/6J mice with cortical spreading depression. Propranolol hydrochloride prevented the elevation of cerebral blood flow associated with cortical spreading depression[8]. A single intraperitoneal injection of 20mg/kg Propranolol hydrochloride attenuated physiological and pathological tremor peak power in C57BLKS/J mice and Car8wdl/wdl mutant mice. Propranolol hydrochloride reduced simple spike and complex spike firing frequency of Purkinje cells in awake state and decreased cerebellar interpositus nucleus neuron firing frequency[9]. Oral gavage of 30mg/kg Propranolol hydrochloride daily for 3 weeks reduced plasma norepinephrine levels in cirrhotic C57BL/6 mice. Propranolol hydrochloride alleviated splenomegaly by reducing spleen weight and spleen-to-body weight ratio, reversed peripheral blood T cell depletion, and reduced positive bacterial culture rates in blood, ascites, intestine, pleural fluid and liver. Propranolol hydrochloride reduced splenic white pulp area and inhibited the apoptotic zone in splenic white pulp, decreased ADRB1 and ADRB2 protein expression in spleen, restored the proportion of naive Th and effector memory Th cells among splenic Th cells, downregulated CD68, F4/80, iNOS, TGFβ1, Foxp3 and Th1-related molecule expression and upregulated Th2-related molecule expression in spleen tissue, and reduced splenic lipopolysaccharide binding protein level[10].
References:
[1] Al-Majed AA, Bakheit AHH, Abdel Aziz HA, et al. Propranolol. Profiles Drug Subst Excip Relat Methodol. 2017;42:287-338.
[2] Takka S. Propranolol hydrochloride-anionic polymer binding interaction. Farmaco. 2003 Oct;58(10):1051-6.
[3] Thacharodi D, Rao KP. Propranolol hydrochloride release behaviour of crosslinked chitosan membranes. J Chem Technol Biotechnol. 1993;58(2):177-81.
[4] Ahn BN, Kim SK, Shim CK. Preparation and evaluation of proliposomes containing propranolol hydrochloride. J Microencapsul. 1995 Jul-Aug;12(4):363-75.
[5] Alzahrani SM, Al Doghaither HA, Alkhatabi HA, et al. Investigating the potential of propranolol as an anti-tumor agent in colorectal cancer cell lines. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Aug;26(15):7513.
[6] Zhu Y, Xu M, Li M. Propranolol enhances the oncolytic effect of newcastle disease virus on canine mammary tumor cell by modulating the IFN-I-mediated JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Vet Q. 2026;46(1):2648283.
[7] Koh M, Takahashi T, Kurokawa Y, et al. Propranolol suppresses gastric cancer cell growth by regulating proliferation and apoptosis. Gastric Cancer. 2021 Nov;24(6):1037-1049.
[8] Kurauchi Y, Haruta M, Tanaka R, et al. Propranolol prevents cerebral blood flow changes and pain-related behaviors in migraine model mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2019 Jan 22;508(4):1273-1279.
[9] Zhou J, Van der Heijden ME, Salazar Leon LE, et al. Propranolol Modulates Cerebellar Circuit Activity and Reduces Tremor. Cells. 2022 Dec 1;11(23):3889.
[10] Tsai HC, Hsu CF, Huang CC, et al. Propranolol Suppresses the T-Helper Cell Depletion-Related Immune Dysfunction in Cirrhotic Mice. Cells. 2020 Mar;9(3):604.