title: Natural alkaloids: basic aspects, biological roles, and future perspectives.
abstract: Natural products have gained popularity worldwide for promoting healthcare, as well as disease prevention. Alkaloids are important chemical compounds that serve as a rich reservoir for drug discovery. Several alkaloids isolated from natural herbs exhibit antiproliferation, antibacterial, antiviral, insecticidal, and antimetastatic effects on various types of cancers both in vitro and in vivo. This paper focuses on the naturally-derived alkaloids such as berberine, matrine, piperine, fritillarine, and rhynchophylline, etc., and summarizes the action mechanisms of these compounds. Based on the information in the literature that is summarized in this paper, the use of alkaloids as drugs is very promising, but more research and clinical trials are necessary before final recommendations on specific alkaloids can be made. Following this, it is hoped that as a result of this review, there will be a greater awareness of the excellent promise that natural alkaloids show for use in the therapy of diseases.
authors: National TCM Key Laboratory of Serum Pharmacochemistry, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China.
authors: Shi
authors: S
authors: Qiu
authors: National TCM Key Laboratory of Serum Pharmacochemistry, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China.
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Sun
authors: National TCM Key Laboratory of Serum Pharmacochemistry, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China.
authors: Ai-Hua
authors: AH
authors: Zhang
authors: National TCM Key Laboratory of Serum Pharmacochemistry, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China.
authors: Hong-Ying
authors: HY
authors: Xu
authors: National TCM Key Laboratory of Serum Pharmacochemistry, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China.
authors: Guang-Li
authors: GL
authors: Yan
authors: National TCM Key Laboratory of Serum Pharmacochemistry, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China.
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Han
authors: National TCM Key Laboratory of Serum Pharmacochemistry, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China. Electronic address: xijunwagnls@126.com.
authors: Xi-Jun
authors: XJ
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry; D011161:Porifera / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Alkaloids; Biological roles; Health benefits; Natural product