Hemin induces the activity of the enzyme heme-oxygenase¹.  Heme oxygenase catalyzes the conversion of heme to biliverdin, CO and Fe⁺³.  The induction of heme oxygenase activity has been associated with reduced free radical formation² and inflammation³, vascular repair³ and implicated in tumor growth and metastasis⁴.  Hemin has been shown to be effective at 75 ìmol/kg⁵ in mice or 5 ìM⁶ for cells in culture.