Harringtonine (CAS 26833-85-2) is a natural alkaloid isolated from Cephalotaxus harringtonia, functioning primarily as an inhibitor of eukaryotic protein synthesis. It exerts its inhibitory effects by blocking translation initiation, specifically disrupting aminoacyl-tRNA binding and peptide bond formation during the early stages of polypeptide elongation. In ribosome profiling studies, harringtonine immobilizes ribosomes immediately following initiation, enabling capture and analysis of ribosome-protected mRNA fragments. Due to these mechanisms, harringtonine serves as a valuable experimental tool for investigating translation dynamics and holds potential in anti-cancer research, particularly against hematological malignancies.