Table 1.
Mechanisms of action of some prominent alkaloids in the treatment of lung cancer.
| Sl. No | Alkaloid | Sources | Mechanism of action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indole Alkaloids | |||
| 1. | Vinca Alkaloids |
Catharanthus roseus
(Whole Plant) |
Microtubule depolymerization and mitotic spindle destabilization ultimately lead to cell cycle arrest and cell death. |
| 2. | Camptothecin |
Camptotheca acuminate
(Bark, Cortex, And Fruits) |
Formation of Topoisomerase-Camptothecin complex, which inhibits topoisomerase I resulting in DNA damage and cell death |
| 3. | Aplicyanins |
Aplidium cyaneum
(Antarctic tunicate) |
Induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by activation of caspase. In addition, they also act by targeting the VEGF(Vascular endothelial growth factor) signal pathway and extracellular degradation of the matrix |
| Isoquinoline alkaloids | |||
| 4. | Sanguinarine |
Sanguinaria Canadensis
(Roots) |
Suppression of cell growth and induction of apoptosis by downregulating the JAK/STAT pathway. Moreover, it induces apoptosis through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) |
| 5. | Liriodenine |
Cananga odorata
(Barks) |
Blocking of G2 to M phase transition of the cell cycle and induction of caspase activation and apoptosis in human lung cancer cells. |
| 6. | Tetrandrine |
Stephania tetrandra
(Roots) |
Suppress cell growth and induces apoptosis by inhibition of by activation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)/hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α HIF-1α/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathways. |
| Pyrrole and pyrrolizidine alkaloids | |||
| 7. | Tambjamine |
Tambja eliora
(Marine sources) |
Triggers imbalance in cellular homeostasis, causing dysfunction of mitochondria and deacidification of lysosomes resulting in necrotic cell death |
| β carboline benzoquinolizidine alkaloids | |||
| 8. | Oxymatrine |
Sophora flavescens
(Shrub) |
Induces reduction in serum and glucocorticoid regulated kinase 3 (SGK3) by promoting the expression of miR-367-3p. It also causes cessation of the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase and impedes the NF-kB signaling pathway. |
| 9. | Punarnavine |
Boerhaavia diffusa
(Whole Plant) |
Inhibits the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), resulting in cell death. |
| 10. | Brucine |
Strychnos nux-vomica
(Seeds) |
Induce apoptosis by blocking G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle through downregulation of Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E expression. In addition, they cause cell death by inhibition of COX2 expression and release of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) |
| 11 | Piperine | Piper nigrum and Piper longum (fruits and roots) | Triggers p53-mediated arrest of cell cycle in G2/M phase and apoptosis through the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 cascades |