title: Antifungal Potential of Alkaloids As An Emerging Therapeutic Target.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fungal infections have been causing serious problems in all age groups, especially in immune-compromised individuals. Various synthetic agents are in clinical practice for the treatment of these infections, however, resistance to these agents badly affected their therapeutic quality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This review focuses on the antifungal activity of naturally occurring alkaloids, their source, chemical structure, and potency with a possible mechanism(s) of action.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of available literature showed that at least 70 different plant derived alkaloids exhibited antifungal activity in vitro. These alkaloids are isolated from different plants and families showing their diverse distribution in plant kingdom. Additionally, the alkaloid from various classes depicted antifungal effects against a variety of fungi.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alkaloids could be a better therapeutic alternative to available therapies with fewer chances of resistance but more research and clinical trials are needed before final recommendations. Additionally, the details provided in this review will offer greater awareness of the excellent promise that natural alkaloids exhibit as antifungal agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Haroon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan.
authors.forename: Mohammad S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mubarak
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Islamia College University, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Surriya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amin
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Alkaloids; alternative medicine; antifungal activity; antifungal agents; drugs of future; mechanisms; structure and potency