title: Alkaloids as Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors in Anticancer Drug Discovery.
abstract: Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide and anticancer drug discovery is a very hot area of research at present. There are various factors which control and affect cancer, out of which enzymes like cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) play a vital role in the growth of tumor cells. Inhibition of this enzyme is a very useful target for the prevention of various types of cancers. Alkaloids are a diverse group of naturally occurring compounds which have shown great COX-2 inhibitory activity both in vitro and in vivo. In this mini-review, we have discussed different alkaloids with COX-2 inhibitory activities and anticancer potential which may act as leads in modern anticancer drug discovery. Different classes of alkaloids including isoquinoline alkaloids, indole alkaloids, piperidine alkaloids, quinazoline alkaloids, and various miscellaneous alkaloids obtained from natural sources have been discussed in detail in this review.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad-22060. Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hashmi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad-22060. Pakistan.
authors.forename: Afsar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad-22060. Pakistan.
authors.forename: Umar
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Farooq
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Economic Plants and Biotechnology, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 560201, Yunnan. China.
authors.forename: Sehroon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2
keywords: Anticancer; COX-2; alkaloids; anti-inflammatory; anti-tumor; cyclooxygenase; enzyme inhibition