Natural Alkaloids as a source of anticancer agents

Abstract

Cancer is a term used to describe disorders in which malignant cells divide uncontrollably and can infect neighboring tissues. Cancer cells have developed multidrug resistance to traditional anticancer treatments during the previous few decades, resulting in tumor recurrence. As a result, new and effective anticancer agents are urgently needed. Alkaloids have been used to treat several diseases, and they have shown great promise in causing cytotoxicity. In-vitro and in-vivo reports show that some alkaloids derived from natural herbs have antiproliferative and antimetastasis properties on a variety of malignancies. Thus, this review summarizes the mechanisms of action of natural alkaloids with potential anticancer characteristics, such as isoquinoline, vinca, steroidal, indole, vincamine, and other alkaloids, as well as marine, derived alkaloids. The data presented in this study will assist researchers in keeping up with current understanding in this field.