Role of plant alkaloids on human health: A review of biological activities

Alkaloids are plant secondary metabolite. They are well known nitrogen-containing natural bioactive compounds. Cutting edge research is going on alkaloids to unravel novel therapeutic approaches. Literature reveals that alkaloids contribute multiple biological activities and some alkaloids transform into active metabolites too. In this review, we have focused on marketed and experimental alkaloids. We have summarized sources and biological activities of reported alkaloids in past decades.     

植物内生真菌生物碱活性成分的研究进展

大量的生物碱从植物内生真菌中分离了出来, 并表现出良好的生物活性. 对植物内生真菌所产生的生物碱, 按照酰胺类、有机胺类、吡咯类、喹啉和异喹啉类、吲哚类、吡啶类、喹唑啉类进行了综述, 并且介绍了这些生物碱的生物活性.     

Amaryllidaceae and Sceletium alkaloids

Structurally diverse alkaloids, which show significant biological activities, are abundant in the plants of the family Amaryllidaceae. The latest progress on the isolation, identification, biological activity, and chemical synthesis of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids and the structurally close Sceletium alkaloids is summarized in this review.     

海洋溴吡咯生物碱的研究进展

大量的溴吡咯生物碱从海绵中得到分离, 并表现出良好的生理活性. 这类化合物因其结构的新颖性、多样性、以及良好的生理活性而成为合成化学家关注的焦点. 综述了近年来海洋溴吡咯生物碱的分离和合成进展.     

Alkaloids produced by endophytic fungi: a review

In recent years, a number of alkaloids have been discovered from endophytic fungi in plants, which exhibited excellent biological properties such as antimicrobial, insecticidal, cytotoxic, and anticancer activities. This review mainly deals with the research progress on endophytic fungi for producing bioactive alkaloids such as quinoline and isoquinoline, amines and amides, indole derivatives, pyridines, and quinazolines. The biological activities and action mechanisms of these alkaloids from endophytic fungi are also introduced. Furthermore, the relationships between alkaloid-producing endophytes and their host plants, as well as their potential applications in the future are discussed.     

Simple indole alkaloids and those with a nonrearranged monoterpenoid unit

This review covers the literature on simple indole alkaloids and those with a nonrearranged monoterpenoid unit. Newly isolated alkaloids, structure determinations, total syntheses and biological activities are included.     

Simple indole alkaloids and those with a nonrearranged monoterpenoid unit

This review covers simple indole alkaloids, isoprenoid tryptamines, and bisindole alkaloids with a nonrearranged monoterpenoid unit. Newly isolated alkaloids, structure determinations, total syntheses and biological activities are reported. The literature from January to December 2000 is reviewed, and 182 references are cited.     

Terpenoid alkaloids of the Buxaceae family with potential biological importance

The plants of the family Buxaceae are widely used in traditional medicine and constitute rich sources of terpenoidal alkaloids. Compounds of this family have been the subject of numerous chemical and pharmacological studies over past decades because of their interesting biological activities such as cholinesterase inhibition, as well as antibacterial and antileishmanial activities. The chemical and biological properties of these alkaloids, including data relevant to straightforward structure determination and information on biosynthesis, are highlighted in this review, with 144 references being cited.     

Diversity in Chemical Structures and Biological Properties of Plant Alkaloids

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.     

Simple indole alkaloids and those with a nonrearranged monoterpenoid unit

This review covers the literature on simple indole alkaloids and those with a nonrearranged monoterpenoid unit from the beginning up to the end of 2004. Newly isolated alkaloids, structure determinations, total synthesis and biological activities are included.     

Advances in the Chemical and Biological Characterization of Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids and Natural Analogues Isolated in the Last Decade

Amaryllidaceae are bulbous wild and cultivated plants well known for their beautiful flowers and pharmaceutical applications, essentially due to the alkaloids and flavonoids content. Hundreds of alkaloids have been isolated until now and several scientific publications reported their sources, chemical structures, and biological activities. During the last decade, some unstudied Amaryllidaceae plants were the object of in-depth investigations to isolate and chemically and biologically characterize new and already known alkaloids as well as some analogues. This review describes the isolation and chemical and biological characterization of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, and their analogues obtained in the last decade, focusing the discussion on the new ones.     

Simple indole alkaloids and those with a nonrearranged monoterpenoid unit

This review covers simple indole alkaloids and those with a nonrearranged monoterpenoid unit. Newly isolated alkaloids, structure determinations, total syntheses and biological activities are included. The literature from January to December 2001 is reviewed and 166 references are cited.     

新型海洋双吲哚类生物碱的研究进展

双吲哚类生物碱是近年来分离到的一类很重要的海洋天然产物。由于这类化合物具有新颖的化学结构和多种生理活性,因此它们引起了科学家极大的兴趣。本文综述了近年来新型海洋双吲哚类生物碱的研究进展。     

8-, 9-, and 11-Aryloxy Dimeric Aporphines and Their Pharmacological Activities

Aporphines, a major group of aporphinoid alkaloids, exhibit interesting and diverse pharmacological activities. A set of dimeric aporphines with an aryloxy group at C8, C9, and C11 have been isolated from six genera and shown to elicit various biological activities such as antitumor, antimalarial, antimicrobial, antiplatelet aggregation, antifibrotic, immunosuppressive, and vasorelaxant properties. In this review, the nomenclature, chemical structures, botanical sources, pharmacological activities, and synthetic approaches of this set of dimeric alkaloids are presented.     

Simple indole alkaloids and those with a non-rearranged monoterpenoid unit

This review covers newly isolated simple indole alkaloids, structure determinations, total syntheses and biological activities reported in the literature in 2003.     

5,8-二取代吲哚里西丁毒青蛙生物碱的合成

建立了一种以Michael共轭加成为关键步骤, 高立体选择性合成5,8-二取代吲哚里西丁生物碱的方法, 同时对5,8-二取代吲哚里西丁毒青蛙生物碱(-)-203A, (-)-209B, (-)-235B″, (-)-231C, (-)-233D, (-)-219F, (-)-221I, (-)-193E(Proposed), (-)-251N和221K(Proposed)进行了全合成, 确定了203A和233D的绝对构型及231C, 219F, 221I和251N的相对构型. 另外, 对193E(Proposed)的结构提出了订正方案.     

beta-Phenylethylamines and the isoquinoline alkaloids

This review covers beta-phenylethylamines and isoquinoline alkaloids derived from them, including further products of oxidation. condensation with formaldehyde and rearrangement, some of which do not contain an isoquinoline system, together with naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, which have a different biogenetic origin. The occurrence of the alkaloids, with the structures of new bases, together with their reactions, syntheses and biological activities are reported. The literature from July 2002 to June 2003 is reviewed, with 568 references cited.     

Beta-phenylethylamines and the isoquinoline alkaloids

This review covers beta-phenylethylamines and isoquinoline alkaloids and compounds derived from them, including further products of oxidation, condensation with formaldehyde and rearrangement, some of which do not contain an isoquinoline system, together with naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, which have a different biogenetic origin. The occurrence of the alkaloids, with the structures of new bases, together with their reactions, syntheses and biological activities are reported. The literature from July 2001 to June 2002 is reviewed, with 581 references cited.     

An overview on synthetic entries to tetrahydro-β-carbolines

The tetrahydro-β-carboline (THBC) nucleus is a predominant feature of a vast array of naturally occurring alkaloids. Most of these alkaloids have been found to exhibit significant biological activities, which promote to develop a plethora of synthetic methods for the construction of THBCs. In this review, we focus on the recent developments and studies related to the synthesis of THBCs including total syntheses of related alkaloids mainly over the period of 2000–2017. In addition, a brief account of some significant THBC alkaloids with their sources and bioactivities is also presented in tabular format.     

Beta-phenylethylamines and the isoquinoline alkaloids

This review covers beta-phenylethylamines and isoquinoline alkaloids that are derived from them, including further products of oxidation, condensation with formaldehyde and rearrangement, some of which do not contain an isoquinoline system, together with naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, which have a different biogenetic origin. The occurrence of the alkaloids, with the structures of new bases, together with their reactions, syntheses and biological activities are reported. The literature from July 2000 to June 2001 is reviewed, with 495 references cited.