Ph-Ph+ is a hemiprotonic compound derived from the dimerization of phenanthroline (ph). It exhibits remarkable antitumor, antibacterial, and antifungal properties [1].

Ph-Ph+ (0.0039-2 μmol/mL; 24-72 hours) inhibits the various tumor cell proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner for H22, U251MG, human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line, mouse melanoma B16 cell line, and human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell line)., Ph-Ph+ does not affect the viabilities of human L02 cells and HUVEC cells. Under an optical microscope, Ph-Ph+-treated tumor cells shrank and exhibited apoptotic bodies. Ph-Ph+ has a selective antitumor effect through inducing cell apoptosis [1]. Ph-Ph+ has broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal activities, and drug-resistant bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [1].

The tumor-bearing mice were prepared using the subcutaneous transplantation mouse hepatoma H22 cell line. Ph-Ph+ (2-8 mg/kg; i.v; for 8 days) treatment reduces tumor volume and weight in a dose-dependent manner [1]. In animal models of liver cancer with fungal infection, the Ph-Ph+ (2-8 mg/kg; i.v; once a day for 9 days) retards proliferation of hepatoma cells in tumor-bearing mice and remedies pneumonia and encephalitis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans [1].