Hydroxyurea is a hydroxylated analog of urea. It is beneficial in increasing fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels, which in turn reduces the frequency of severe crises and the need for blood transfusions in sickle cell anemia patients. Hydroxyurea exhibits cell-cycle specificity for the S phase, leading to cell arrest at G1 to S. This non-alkylating S phase-specific myelosuppressive agent has a mechanism of action that is not specific to platelets.

Hydroxyurea has been used:

• for cell cycle synchronization in MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, primary root of seedling
• as a drug for treating the parasite Leishmania mexicana in cell viability and cell cycle assay
• as an inhibitor in the cell adhesion and motility assay in Caki control and CD9 knockdown cells

Anti-neoplastic. Inactivates ribonucleoside reductase by forming a free radical nitroxide that binds a tyrosyl free radical in the active site of the enzyme. This blocks the synthesis of deoxynucleotides, which inhibits DNA synthesis and induces synchronization or cell death in S-phase.

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