Stephania epigaea Lo

Dicentrine is a natural product isolated from the plant Stephania epigaea Lo with antihypertensive effect. Dicentrine is an α₁-adrenoceptor antagonist which has effective against human hyperplastic prostates.

Dicentrine hydrochloride is a drug with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activity. Dicentrine hydrochloride exerts its effects by enhancing TNF-α-induced apoptosis in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. Dicentrine hydrochloride increases caspase-8, -9, -3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activities. Dicentrine hydrochloride inhibits TNF-α-induced invasion and migration of A549 cells. Dicentrine hydrochloride significantly inhibited the TNF-α-activated TAK1, p38, JNK and Akt signaling pathways, and reduced the transcriptional activities of NF-κB and AP-1.

Dehydrodicentrine is an aporphine alkaloid can be isolated from the root of S. epigaea and has inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with an IC₅₀ value of 2.98 μM.

N-Methylcalycinine is a nature product with AChE inhibitory activity. N-Methylcalycinine can be isolated from the roots of Stephania epigaea. N-Methylcalycinine can be used for the research of asthma, cancer, dysentery, fever, hyperglycemia, intestinal complaints, inflammation, sleep disturbances, tuberculosis and so on.