The Biological Activity of Natural Alkaloids against Herbivores, Cancerous Cells and Pathogens
Date
2019-11-11
Authors
Thawabteh, Amin
Juma, Salma
Bader, Mariam
Karaman, Donia
Scrano, Laura
Bufo, Sabino A.
Karaman, Rafik
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
The growing incidence of microorganisms that resist antimicrobials is a constant concern
for the scientific community, while the development of new antimicrobials from new chemical
entities has become more and more expensive, time-consuming, and exacerbated by emerging
drug-resistant strains. In this regard, many scientists are conducting research on plants aiming to
discover possible antimicrobial compounds. The secondary metabolites contained in plants are a
source of chemical entities having pharmacological activities and intended to be used for the treatment
of di erent diseases. These chemical entities have the potential to be used as an e ective antioxidant,
antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic and antimicrobial agents. Among these pharmacologically active
entities are the alkaloids which are classified into a number of classes, including pyrrolizidines,
pyrrolidines, quinolizidines, indoles, tropanes, piperidines, purines, imidazoles, and isoquinolines.
Alkaloids that have antioxidant properties are capable of preventing a variety of degenerative diseases
through capturing free radicals, or through binding to catalysts involved indi erent oxidation
processes occurring within the human body. Furthermore, these entities are capable of inhibiting the
activity of bacteria, fungi, protozoan and etc. The unique properties of these secondary metabolites
are the main reason for their utilization by the pharmaceutical companies for the treatment of di erent
diseases. Generally, these alkaloids are extracted from plants, animals and fungi. Penicillin is the
most famous natural drug discovery deriving from fungus. Similarly, marines have been used as a
source for thousands of bioactive marine natural products. In this review, we cover the medical use of
natural alkaloids isolated from a variety of plants and utilized by humans as antibacterial, antiviral,
antifungal and anticancer agents. An example for such alkaloids is berberine, an isoquinoline
alkaloid, found in roots and stem-bark of Berberis asculin P. Renault plant and used to kill a variety
of microorganisms.
Description
Keywords
alkaloids , natural sources , anticancer , antibacterial , antiviral , antifungal