Calcium antagonist; inhibitor of Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ ATPase.

Complex of Ruthenium elements‚ Cl₆H₄₂N₁₄O₂Ru₃ ‚ synthetic.

As a calcium antagonist‚ its inhibitory mechanism differs from that of other antagonists [1]. Its selective interaction with Calmodulin may explain some of the following pharmacological actions:


- inhibits Ca²⁺ uptake in mitochondria and Ca²⁺ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum in skeletal and cardiac muscles.

- inhibits Ca²⁺-ATPase and ATP independent Ca²⁺ binding with rat heart sarcolemma.

- prevents Capsaicin-induced transmitter release from primary afferent nerve terminals.

1. Masuoka et al., "Effects of Ruthenium Red on Activation of Ca²⁺-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase." Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. (1990). 169(1):315-322
2. Amman et al., "Capsaicin desensitization in vivo is inhibited by Ruthenium Red." Eur. J. Pharmacol. (1990). 186(2-3):169
3. Amman et al., "Capsaicin-induced stimulation of polymodal nociceptors is antagonised by Ruthenium Red independently of extracellular calcium." Neuroscience (1989). 32(1):255
4. Luthra et al., "The inhibition of calcium uptake and release by rat liver mitochondria by Ruthenium Red." FEBS Letters (1977). 81(1):142