Natural aporphine alkaloids: A comprehensive review of phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, anticancer activities, and clinical application

Jing Sun; Xingtian Zhan; Weimin Wang; Xiaojie Yang; Yichen Liu; Huanzhi Yang; Jianjun Deng; Haixia Yang

doi:10.1016/j.jare.2023.11.003

Natural aporphine alkaloids: A comprehensive review of phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, anticancer activities, and clinical application

J Adv Res. 2023 Nov 5:S2090-1232(23)00326-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.11.003. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jing Sun¹, Xingtian Zhan², Weimin Wang¹, Xiaojie Yang¹, Yichen Liu¹, Huanzhi Yang¹, Jianjun Deng³, Haixia Yang⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.
² School of Public Administration and Policy, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China. Electronic address: ruczhanxt@163.com.
³ State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, Biotech & Biomed Research Institute, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
⁴ College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China. Electronic address: hyang@cau.edu.cn.

PMID: 37935346
DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.11.003

Abstract

Background: Cancer is the most common cause of death and is still a serious public health problem. Alkaloids, a class of bioactive compounds widely diffused in plants, especially Chinese herbs, are used as functional ingredients, precursors, and lead compounds in food and clinical applications. Among them, aporphine alkaloids (AAs), as an important class of isoquinoline alkaloids, exert a strong anticancer effect on multiple cancer types.

Aim of review: This review aims to comprehensively summarize the phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, and bioavailability of seven subtypes of AAs and their derivatives from various plants and highlight their anticancer bioactivities and mechanisms of action. Key Scientific Concepts of Review. The chemical structures and botanical diversity of AAs are elucidated, and promising results are highlighted regarding the potent anticancer activities of AAs and their derivatives, contributing to their pharmacological benefits. This work provides a better understanding of AAs and combinational anticancer therapies involving them, thereby improving the development of functional food containing plant-derived AA and the clinical application of AAs.

Keywords: Anticancer; Aporphine alkaloids; Application; Pharmacokinetics; Phytochemistry.

Publication types

Review