Phorbol esters

Phorbol esters are a class of chemical compounds found in a variety of plants, particularly in the families Euphorbiaceae and Thymelaeaceae.

[1][2] Chemically, they are ester derivatives of the tetracyclic diterpenoid phorbol.

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a phorbol ester receptor.

[2][3] Phorbol esters can stimulate PKC in a similar way to diglycerides.

[2] In particular, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is used as a biomedical research tool in models of carcinogenesis.