title: beta-Carboline alkaloids: biochemical and pharmacological functions.
abstract: beta-Carboline alkaloids are a large group of natural and synthetic indole alkaloids with different degrees of aromaticity, some of which are widely distributed in nature, including various plants, foodstuffs, marine creatures, insects, mammalians as well as human tissues and body fluids. These compounds are of great interest due to their diverse biological activities. Particularly, these compounds have been shown to intercalate into DNA, to inhibit CDK, Topisomerase, and monoamine oxidase, and to interact with benzodiazepine receptors and 5-hydroxy serotonin receptors. Furthermore, these chemicals also demonstrated a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties including sedative, anxiolytic, hypnotic, anticonvulsant, antitumor, antiviral, antiparasitic as well as antimicrobial activities. In this review, we summerized the biochemical and pharmacological functions of beta-carboline alkaloids.
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Functional Genes and Center for Biopharmaceutical Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xin Gang Xi Road, Guangzhou 510275, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Rihui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Wenlie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Zihou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Anlong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids; D002243:Carbolines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D007364:Intercalating Agents; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D002243:Carbolines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007364:Intercalating Agents; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin