Natural alkaloids: basic aspects, biological roles, and future perspectives  

作　　者：QIU Shi SUN Hui ZHANG Ai-Hua XU Hong-Ying YAN Guang-Li HAN Ying WANG Xi-Jun 

机构地区：[1]National TCM Key Laboratory of Serum Pharmacochemistry, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine

出　　处：《Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines》2014年第6期401-406,共6页中国天然药物（英文版）

基　　金：supported by the grants from the Key Program of Natural Science Foundation of State(Nos.90709019,81173500,81373930,81302905,81102556,81202639);the National Key Technology Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(Nos.2011BAI03B03,2011BAI03B06,2011BAI03B08);the National Key Subject of Drug Innovation(No.2009ZX09502-005)

摘　　要：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.Natural products have gained popularity worldwide for promoting healthcare, as well as disease prevention. Alka- loids 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 vi- tro and in vivo. This paper focuses on the naturally-derived alkaloids such as berberine, matrine, piperine, fritillarine, and rhyn- chophylline, 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.

关 键 词：Natural product ALKALOIDS Biological roles Health benefits 

分 类 号：R284[医药卫生—中药学]