Safingol hydrochloride (L-threo-dihydrosphingosine hydrochloride) is a specific inhibitor of protein kinase C. It induces autophagy in solid tumor cells and cancer cell death by inhibiting the PKC and PI3-kinase pathways.

Bisindolylmaleimide III is a potent and selective inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), specifically interacting with PKCα or ribosomal S6 protein kinase 1 upon activation of these kinases.

Protein kinase inhibitor H-7 is a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC) with a Ki of 6 μM. Protein kinase inhibitor H-7 is also a cyclic nucleotide dependent protein kinase inhibitor.