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Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2021Huperzine A (HupA), an alkaloid found in the club moss , has been used for centuries in Chinese folk medicine to treat dementia. The effects of this alkaloid have been... (Review)
Review
Huperzine A (HupA), an alkaloid found in the club moss , has been used for centuries in Chinese folk medicine to treat dementia. The effects of this alkaloid have been attributed to its ability to inhibit the cholinergic enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), acting as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI). The biological functions of HupA have been studied both in vitro and in vivo, and its role in neuroprotection appears to be a good therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer´s disease (AD). Here, we summarize the neuroprotective effects of HupA on AD, with an emphasis on its interactions with different molecular signaling avenues, such as the Wnt signaling, the pre- and post-synaptic region mechanisms (synaptotagmin, neuroligins), the amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing, the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) accumulation, and mitochondrial protection. Our goal is to provide an integrated overview of the molecular mechanisms through which HupA affects AD.
Topics: Acetylcholinesterase; Alkaloids; Alzheimer Disease; Animals; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Humans; Huperzia; Molecular Structure; Neuroprotective Agents; Sesquiterpenes; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 34770940
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26216531 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2021Phytochemicals belonging to the group of alkaloids are signature specialized metabolites endowed with countless biological activities. Plants are armored with these... (Review)
Review
Phytochemicals belonging to the group of alkaloids are signature specialized metabolites endowed with countless biological activities. Plants are armored with these naturally produced nitrogenous compounds to combat numerous challenging environmental stress conditions. Traditional and modern healthcare systems have harnessed the potential of these organic compounds for the treatment of many ailments. Various chemical entities (functional groups) attached to the central moiety are responsible for their diverse range of biological properties. The development of the characterization of these plant metabolites and the enzymes involved in their biosynthesis is of an utmost priority to deliver enhanced advantages in terms of biological properties and productivity. Further, the incorporation of whole/partial metabolic pathways in the heterologous system and/or the overexpression of biosynthetic steps in homologous systems have both become alternative and lucrative methods over chemical synthesis in recent times. Moreover, in-depth research on alkaloid biosynthetic pathways has revealed numerous chemical modifications that occur during alkaloidal conversions. These chemical reactions involve glycosylation, acylation, reduction, oxidation, and methylation steps, and they are usually responsible for conferring the biological activities possessed by alkaloids. In this review, we aim to discuss the alkaloidal group of plant specialized metabolites and their brief classification covering major categories. We also emphasize the diversity in the basic structures of plant alkaloids arising through enzymatically catalyzed structural modifications in certain plant species, as well as their emerging diverse biological activities. The role of alkaloids in plant defense and their mechanisms of action are also briefly discussed. Moreover, the commercial utilization of plant alkaloids in the marketplace displaying various applications has been enumerated.
Topics: Acylation; Alkaloids; Biosynthetic Pathways; Glycosylation; Methylation; Molecular Structure; Oxidation-Reduction; Phytochemicals; Plant Physiological Phenomena; Plants
PubMed: 34204857
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113374 -
Biomolecules Nov 2021Plants produce a large variety of low-molecular-weight and specialized secondary compounds. Among them, nitrogen-containing alkaloids are the most biologically active... (Review)
Review
Plants produce a large variety of low-molecular-weight and specialized secondary compounds. Among them, nitrogen-containing alkaloids are the most biologically active and are often used in the pharmaceutical industry. Although alkaloid chemistry has been intensively investigated, characterization of alkaloid biosynthesis, including biosynthetic enzyme genes and their regulation, especially the transcription factors involved, has been relatively delayed, since only a limited number of plant species produce these specific types of alkaloids in a tissue/cell-specific or developmental-specific manner. Recent advances in molecular biology technologies, such as RNA sequencing, co-expression analysis of transcripts and metabolites, and functional characterization of genes using recombinant technology and cutting-edge technology for metabolite identification, have enabled a more detailed characterization of alkaloid pathways. Thus, transcriptional regulation of alkaloid biosynthesis by transcription factors, such as basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH), APETALA2/ethylene-responsive factor (AP2/ERF), and WRKY, is well elucidated. In addition, jasmonate signaling, an important cue in alkaloid biosynthesis, and its cascade, interaction of transcription factors, and post-transcriptional regulation are also characterized and show cell/tissue-specific or developmental regulation. Furthermore, current sequencing technology provides more information on the genome structure of alkaloid-producing plants with large and complex genomes, for genome-wide characterization. Based on the latest information, we discuss the application of transcription factors in alkaloid engineering.
Topics: Alkaloids; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Oxylipins; Transcription Factors
PubMed: 34827717
DOI: 10.3390/biom11111719 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2022Alkaloids are nitrogen-containing compounds, biosynthesized by both marine and terrestrial organisms, often with strong biological properties [...].
Alkaloids are nitrogen-containing compounds, biosynthesized by both marine and terrestrial organisms, often with strong biological properties [...].
Topics: Alkaloids; Aquatic Organisms; Biological Products; Drug Discovery; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 35209135
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27041347 -
Nutrients Jul 2020Caffeine is a naturally occurring plant alkaloid and is found in plant constituents such as coffee and cocoa beans, tea leaves, guarana berries and the kola nut [...].
Caffeine is a naturally occurring plant alkaloid and is found in plant constituents such as coffee and cocoa beans, tea leaves, guarana berries and the kola nut [...].
Topics: Alkaloids; Athletes; Cacao; Caffeine; Coffee; Diet; Doping in Sports; Fruit; Humans; Paullinia; Performance-Enhancing Substances; Plant Leaves; Tea
PubMed: 32707772
DOI: 10.3390/nu12082167 -
Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao = Chinese... Oct 2020Pictet-Spenglerases (P-Sases) catalyze the Pictet-Spengler (P-S) reactions and exhibit high stereoselectivity and regioselectivity under mild conditions. The typical P-S... (Review)
Review
Pictet-Spenglerases (P-Sases) catalyze the Pictet-Spengler (P-S) reactions and exhibit high stereoselectivity and regioselectivity under mild conditions. The typical P-S reaction refers to the condensation and recyclization of β-arylethylamine with aldehyde or ketone under acidic conditions to form tetrahydroisoquinoline and β-carboline alkaloid derivatives. The related enzymatic products of P-Sases are the backbones of various bioactive compounds, including clinical drugs: morphine, noscapine, quinine, berberine, ajmaline, morphine. Furthermore, the activity of P-Sases in stereoselective and regioselective catalysis is also valuable for chemoenzymatic synthesis. Therefore, this review summarizes the research progress in the discovery, functional identification, biological characteristics and catalytic applications of P-Sases, which provide the useful theoretical reference in future P-Sases research and development.
Topics: Alkaloids; Catalysis; Enzymes; Research; Tetrahydroisoquinolines
PubMed: 33169566
DOI: 10.13345/j.cjb.200064 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023Cepharanthine, a natural bisbenzylisoquinoline (BBIQ) alkaloid isolated from the plant , is the only bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid approved for human use and has been... (Review)
Review
Cepharanthine, a natural bisbenzylisoquinoline (BBIQ) alkaloid isolated from the plant , is the only bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid approved for human use and has been used in the clinic for more than 70 years. Cepharanthine has a variety of medicinal properties, including signaling pathway inhibitory activities, immunomodulatory activities, and antiviral activities. Recently, cepharanthine has been confirmed to greatly inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, we aimed to describe the pharmacological properties and mechanisms of cepharanthine, mainly including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-pathogen activities, inhibition of bone resorption, treatment of alopecia, treatment of snake bite, and other activities. At the same time, we analyzed and summarized the potential antiviral mechanism of cepharanthine and concluded that one of the most important anti-viral mechanisms of cepharanthine may be the stability of plasma membrane fluidity. Additionally, we explained its safety and bioavailability, which provides evidence for cepharanthine as a potential drug for the treatment of a variety of diseases. Finally, we further discuss the potential new clinical applications of cepharanthine and provide direction for its future development.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Benzylisoquinolines; Alkaloids; Antiviral Agents
PubMed: 37446681
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28135019 -
Medicinal Research Reviews Nov 2020Isoquinoline alkaloids, an important class of N-based heterocyclic compounds, have attracted considerable attention from researchers worldwide since the early 19th... (Review)
Review
Isoquinoline alkaloids, an important class of N-based heterocyclic compounds, have attracted considerable attention from researchers worldwide since the early 19th century. Over the past 200 years, many compounds from this class were isolated, and most of them and their analogs possess various bioactivities. In this review, we survey the updated literature on bioactive alkaloids and highlight research achievements of this alkaloid class during the period of 2014-2018. We reviewed over 400 molecules with a broad range of bioactivities, including antitumor, antidiabetic and its complications, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and other activities. This review should provide new indications or directions for the discovery of new and better drugs from the original naturally occurring isoquinoline alkaloids.
Topics: Alkaloids; Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Humans; Isoquinolines
PubMed: 32729169
DOI: 10.1002/med.21703 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2021spp. grow throughout the world and are especially prevalent in high mountain meadows of North America. All parts of plants have been used for the treatment of ailments... (Review)
Review
spp. grow throughout the world and are especially prevalent in high mountain meadows of North America. All parts of plants have been used for the treatment of ailments including injuries, hypertension, and rheumatic pain since as far back as the 1600s. Of the 17-45 spp., alkaloids have been proven to possess favorable medicinal properties associated with inhibition of hedgehog (Hh) pathway signaling. Aberrant Hh signaling leads to proliferation of over 20 cancers, including basal cell carcinoma, prostate and colon among others. Six of the most well-studied alkaloids are cyclopamine (), veratramine (), isorubijervine (), muldamine (), cycloposine (), and veratrosine (). Recent inspection of the ethanolic extract from root and rhizome via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry has detected up to five additional alkaloids that are proposed to be verazine () etioline (), tetrahydrojervine () dihydrojervine (), 22-keto-26-aminocholesterol (). For each alkaloid identified or proposed in , this review surveys literature precedents for extraction methods, isolation, identification, characterization and bioactivity to guide natural product drug discovery associated with this medicinal plant.
Topics: Alkaloids; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Biological Products; Humans; Neoplasms; Veratrum
PubMed: 34641477
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26195934 -
Acta Pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia) Jun 2021Piperine (PIP) is an alkaloid present in several species of piper, mainly Piper nigrum Linn. and P. longum, among other species. The present article provides a... (Review)
Review
Piperine (PIP) is an alkaloid present in several species of piper, mainly Piper nigrum Linn. and P. longum, among other species. The present article provides a comprehensive review of PIP research in the last years concerning its chemical properties, synthesis, absorption, metabolism, bioavailability and toxicity. The reviewed PIP literature has shown many pharmacological properties, such as antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-parasitic activity of PIP. However, its low solubility and absorption make its application challenging. This review also includes advances in the development of nanosystems containing PIP, including liposomes, micelles, metal nanoparticles, nanofibers, polymeric nanoparticles, and solid-lipid nanoparticles. Finally, we discuss different in vitro and in vivo studies to evaluate the biological activity of this drug, as well as some methods for the synthesis of nanosystems and their physical characteristics.
Topics: Alkaloids; Animals; Benzodioxoles; Biological Availability; Humans; Liposomes; Micelles; Nanoparticles; Piper nigrum; Piperidines; Polyunsaturated Alkamides; Solubility
PubMed: 33151173
DOI: 10.2478/acph-2021-0015