Isoquinoline Alkaloids

Berberine chloride is an alkaloid that acts as an antibiotic. Berberine chloride induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and inhibits DNA topoisomerase. Antineoplastic properties.

Bicuculline ((+)-Bicuculline) is A competing neurotransmitter GABA_A receptor antagonist (IC₅₀=2 μM). Bicuculline also blocks Ca²⁺ activating potassium (SK) channels and subsequently blocks slow post-hyperpolarization (slow AHP). Bicuculline has anticonvulsant activity. Bicuculline can be used to induce seizures in mice.

Veratridine (3-Veratroylveracevine) is a plant neurotoxin, a voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) agonist. Veratridine inhibits the peak current of Nav1.7, with an IC₅₀ of 18.39 µM. Veratridine regulates sodium ion channels mainly by activating sodium ion channels, preventing channel inactivation and increasing sodium ion flow.

Berberine sulfate is an alkaloid isolated from the Chinese herbal medicine Huanglian, as an antibiotic. Berberine sulfate induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and inhibits DNA topoisomerase. Berberine sulfate has antineoplastic properties. The sulfate form improves bioavailability.

Cepharanthine is a natural product that can be isolated from the plant Stephania cephalantha Hayata. Cepharanthine has anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (anti-SARS-CoV-2) activities. Cepharanthine has good effective in suppressing viral proliferation (half maximal (50%) inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) and 90% inhibitory concentration (IC₉₀) values of 1.90 and 4.46 μM. Cepharanthine can also effectively reverses P-gp-mediated multidrug resistance in K562 cells and increase enhances the sensitivity of anticancer agents in xenograft mice model. Cepharanthine shows inhibitory effects of human liver cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP3A4, CYP2E1 and CYP2C9. Cepharanthine has antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects.

Cephaeline ((-)-Cephaeline; NSC 32944) is a ferroptosis inducer, with broad-spectrum anticancer and antiviral activities. Cephaeline induces ferroptosis (Ferroptosis) by upregulating p53, inhibiting NRF2, activating ULK3, downregulating the expressions of SLC7A11 and GPX4 in a p53-dependent manner, reducing GSH and mitochondrial membrane potential, and increasing lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation. Cephaeline inhibits cancer cell proliferation, migration and tumor growth. Cephaeline inhibits Ebola virus (EBOV) VLP entry and infection, with IC₅₀ values of 3.27 μM and 22.18 μM respectively; it also inhibits Zika virus (ZIKV) NS5 RdRp activity (IC₅₀ = 976 nM), and binds to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RdRp and N protein, with K_d values of 8.9 μM and 53.8 μM respectively. Cephaeline can be used in studies related to breast cancer, lung cancer, COVID-19, EBOV and ZIKV infections.

Cephaeline hydrochloride ((-)-Cephaeline (hydrochloride); NSC 32944 (monohydrochloride)) is a ferroptosis inducer, with broad-spectrum anticancer and antiviral activities. Cephaeline hydrochloride induces Ferroptosis by upregulating p53, inhibiting NRF2, activating ULK3, downregulating the expressions of SLC7A11 and GPX4 in a p53-dependent manner, reducing GSH and mitochondrial membrane potential, and increasing lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation. Cephaeline hydrochloride inhibits cancer cell proliferation, migration and tumor growth. Cephaeline hydrochloride inhibits Ebola virus (EBOV) VLP entry and infection, with IC₅₀ values of 3.27 μM and 22.18 μM respectively; it also inhibits Zika virus (ZIKV) NS5 RdRp activity (IC₅₀ = 976 nM), and binds to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RdRp and N protein, with K_d values of 8.9 μM and 53.8 μM respectively. Cephaeline hydrochloride can be used in studies related to breast cancer, lung cancer, COVID-19, EBOV and ZIKV infections.

(S)-Higenamine 4'-O-beta-D-glucoside ((S)-Norcocalurine 4′-O-glucoside) is the S-isomer of Higenamine 4'-O-beta-D-glucoside. Higenamine 4'-O-beta-D-glucoside is a β2-adrenergic receptor-targeted agonist that induces glucose uptake and regulates blood glucose levels. (S)-Higenamine 4'-O-beta-D-glucoside can be used in the research of type 2 diabetes.

Narciclasine is a plant growth modulator. Narciclasine modulates the Rho/Rho kinase/LIM kinase/cofilin signaling pathway, greatly increasing GTPase RhoA activity as well as inducing actin stress fiber formation in a RhoA-dependent manner.

Lycorine is a natural alkaloid extracted from the Amaryllidaceae plant. Lycorine is a potent and orally active SCAP inhibitor with a K_d value 15.24 nM. Lycorine downregulates the SCAP protein level without changing its transcription. Lycorine is also a melanoma vasculogenic inhibitor. Lycorine can be used for the study of prostate cancer and metabolic diseases.

Palmatine chloride is an orally active and irreversible indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO-1) inhibitor with IC₅₀s of 3 μM and 157μM against HEK 293-hIDO-1 and rhIDO-1, respectively. Palmatine chloride can also inhibit West Nile virus (WNV) NS2B-NS3 protease in an uncompetitive manner with an IC₅₀ of 96 μM. Palmatine chloride shows anti-cancer, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotection, antibacterial, anti-viral activities.

Chelerythrine chloride is a potent, cell-permeable inhibitor of protein kinase C, with an IC₅₀ of 660 nM. Chelerythrine chloride inhibits the Bcl-XL-Bak BH3 peptide binding with IC₅₀ of 1.5 μM and displaces Bax from Bcl-XL. Chelerythrine chloride induces apoptosis and autophagy.

Tetrahydropalmatine possesses analgesic effects. Tetrahydropalmatine acts through inhibition of amygdaloid release of dopamine to inhibit an epileptic attack in rats.

Dehydrocorydaline (13-Methylpalmatine) is an alkaloid that regulates protein expression of Bax, Bcl-2; activates caspase-7, caspase-8, and inactivates PARP. Dehydrocorydaline elevates p38 MAPK activation. Anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. Dehydrocorydaline shows strong anti-malarial effects (IC₅₀=38 nM), and low cytotoxicity (cell viability > 90%) using P. falciparum 3D7 strain.

Lycorine hydrochloride is the main active ingredient of the herbal medicine derived from Lycoris radiata (L’Her.) Herb. and is also a melanoma vasculogenic inhibitor and has anti-tumor activity. Lycorine hydrochloride effectively inhibits mitotic proliferation of Hey1B cells (IC₅₀ of 1.2 μM).

Nitidine chloride, a potential anti-malarial lead compound derived from Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb) DC, exerts potent anticancer activity through diverse pathways, including inducing apoptosis, inhibiting STAT3 signaling cascade, DNA topoisomerase 1 and 2A, ERK and c-Src/FAK associated signaling pathway, also has anti-inflammatory activity. Nitidine chloride inhibits LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines production via MAPK and NF-kB pathway.

Fangchinoline is isolated from Stephania tetrandra with extensive biological activities, such as enhancing immunity, anti-inflammatory sterilization and anti-atherosclerosis. Fangchinoline, a novel HIV-1 inhibitor, inhibits HIV-1 replication by impairing gp160 proteolytic processing. Fangchinoline targets Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and suppresses FAK-mediated signaling pathway in tumor cells which highly expressed FAK. Fangchinoline induces apoptosis and adaptive autophagy in bladder cancer.

Coptisine chloride is an alkaloid from Chinese goldthread, and acts as an efficient uncompetitive IDO inhibitor with a K_i value of 5.8 μM and an IC₅₀ value of 6.3 μM. Coptisine chloride is a potent H1N1 neuraminidase (NA-1) inhibitor with an IC₅₀ of 104.6?μg/mL and can be used for influenza A (H1N1) infection.

Berberine hemisulfate is the hemisulfate form of Berberine (HY-N0716). Berberine hemisulfate is an alkaloid isolated from the Chinese herbal medicine Huanglian. Berberine hemisulfate exhibits anti-inflammatory, antibiobic, antitumor, cardiovascular protective and neuroprotective activity.

Higenamine (Norcoclaurine), a β2-AR agonist with antioxidant capability, is a key component of the Chinese herb aconite root that prescribes for treating symptoms of heart failure in the oriental Asian countries. Higenamine is also a α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist with hypotensive effect. is a selective LSD1 inhibitor (IC₅₀=1.47 μM) that can be isolated from aconite. Higenamine hydrochloride has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity. Higenamine protects myocyte Apoptosis and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury through selective activation of beta2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR). Higenamine also reduces I/R-induced myocardial infarction in mice. Higenamine can attenuate IL-1β-induced Apoptosis through ROS-mediated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Higenamine protects brain cells from oxygen deprivation. Higenamine can promote bone formation in osteoporosis through the SMAD2/3 pathway. Higenamine can be used to study cancer, inflammation, cardiorenal syndrome and other diseases.