Stephania venosa

Crebanine is an isoquinoline-like alkaloid that can be derived from Stephania. Crebanine is an antagonist of the α7-nAChR with an IC₅₀ of 19.1 μM. Crebanine suppresses the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells, triggers reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst, and promotes apoptosis. Crebanine inhibits the AKT/FoxO3a, NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Crebanine attenuates NOX2 hyperactivation, exhibits antioxidant properties by reducing reactive oxygen species and peroxidation in microglia cells. Crebanine inhibits voltage-dependent Na⁺ current in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. Crebanine has high inhibitory activity against gram-positive animal pathogenic bacteria. Crebanine ameliorates ischemia-reperfusion brain damage in middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R) rats. Crebanine significantly improves Scopolamine (HY-N0296)-induced cognitive deficits in ICR mice. Crebanine can be used for the study of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cerebral ischemia and Alzheimer's disease.

Dehydrocrebanine is an alkaloid that can be isolated from the tuber and leaves of Stephania venosa. Dehydrocrebanine has in vitro anti-cancer activity.