A comprehensive overview of β-carbolines and its derivatives as anticancer agents

  • Eur J Med Chem. 2021 Nov 15:224:113688. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113688.
Bo Luo  1 ,  Xinqiang Song  2
Affiliations
  • 1. College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Tea Plant Biology Key Laboratory of Henan Province, Xinyang, 464000, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 2. College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Tea Plant Biology Key Laboratory of Henan Province, Xinyang, 464000, China.
PMID: 34332400 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113688
Abstract

β-Carboline Alkaloids are a family of natural and synthetic products with structural diversity and outstanding antitumor activities. This review summarizes research developments of β-carboline and its derivatives as Anticancer agents, which focused on both natural and synthetic monomers as well as dimers. In addition, the structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis of β-carboline monomers and dimers are summarized and mechanism of action of β-carboline and its derivatives are also presented. A few possible research directions, suggestions and clues for future work on the development of novel β-carboline-based Anticancer agents with improved expected activities and lesser toxicity are also provided.

Keywords
Antitumor; Mechanism of action; Structure-activity relationship; β-Carboline.