The review collects together some recent information on the identity and pharmacological properties of magnoflorine, a quaternary aporphine alkaloid, that is widely distributed within the representatives of several botanical families like Berberidaceae, Magnoliaceae, Papaveraceae, or Menispermaceae. Several findings published in the scientific publications mention its application in the treatment of a wide spectrum of diseases including inflammatory ones, allergies, hypertension, osteoporosis, bacterial, viral and fungal infections, and some civilization diseases like cancer, obesity, diabetes, dementia, or depression. The pharmacokinetics and perspectives on its introduction to therapeutic strategies will also be discussed.

Three curcuminoids: bisdemethoxycurcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and curcumin from turmeric were successfully separated by a high capacity solvent system composed of heptane: chloroform: methanol: water mixture (5: 6: 3: 2 v/v/v/v) tailored for centrifugal partition chromatographs at K-values of 0.504, 1.057, 1.644, respectively. These three ferulic acid derivatives obtained at a purity rate exceeding 95% were analysed by an HPLC-MS spectrometer. Turmeric extract inhibited the proliferation/viability of A549 human lung cancer, HT29 colon cancer, and T98G glioblastoma cell lines in (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) tetrazolium reduction assay (MTT). Single curcuminoids significantly decreased the viability/proliferation of lung cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, total extract displayed the superior anticancer activity in the investigated cell lines. Crude extract in combination with cisplatin augmented the decrease in the viability of cancer cells compared with single compound treatment in A549 lung cancer cells. Total extract of Curcuma longa could be regarded as being more effective against lung cancer cells in vitro than its separated compounds.

Magnoflorine is an aporphine alkaloid present in plant species belonging to the Berberidaceae, Magnoliaceae, Menispermaceae, or Papaveraceae botanical families. The interest of magnoflorine has increased recently due to its multiplicity of pharmacological properties. The aim of this study was the analysis of combined anti-proliferative effect of magnoflorine and cisplatin and the assessment of drug–drug pharmacological interaction between these agents using isobolographic method in MDA-MB-468 human breast, NCIH1299 lung, TE671 rhabdomyosarcoma, or T98G glioblastoma cancer cell lines. Magnoflorine in combination with cisplatin at a fixed ratio of 1:1 augmented their anticancer action and yielded synergistic or additive pharmacological interactions by means of isobolographic method, therefore combined therapy using these two active agents can be a promising chemotherapy regimen in the treatment of some types of breast, lung, rhabdomyosarcoma, and glioblastoma cancers.

Although numerous studies have been conducted on ginger extracts and fractions, the data on the pharmacological activity of single constituents of Zingiber officinale are still insufficient. To assess the antidementia properties of the plant, a thin layer chromatography (TLC)-based bioautography acetylcholinesterase inhibitory assay was performed on the Zingiber officinale diethyl ether extract. It led to the recognition of three active inhibitors among volatile constituents of the plant: ar-curcumene (A), α-sesquiphellandrene (B) and a-zingiberene (C). The identification of the components was possible thanks to the application of a TLC–HPLC-MS interface analysis of active zones and the GC-MS qualitative analysis of the tested samples. Based on the obtained results, the influence of several extraction techniques (hydrodistillation—HD, pressurized liquid extraction or accelerated solvent extraction—ASE, shaking maceration–SM, supercritical fluid extraction–SFE, and ultrasound-assisted extraction—UAE) on the recovery of the active metabolites from plant material was assessed to deliver enriched extracts. As a result, HD and SFE, were found to be the most efficient methods to recover the volatile components and the concentrations of A, B, and C reached 0.51 ± 0.025, 0.77 ± 0.045, and 1.67 ± 0.11 percent, respectively. Only HD and SFE were found to recover monoterpene hydrocarbons from the plant matrix. The remaining techniques provided extracts rich in more complex constituents, like sesquiterpenes.

Magnoflorine (MGN) is a quaternary aporphine alkaloid that exhibits numerous therapeutic properties, including neuropsychopharmacological, anti-anxiety, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, or antifungal activities. The aim of the present study was an investigation of the influence of MGN on viability, proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest in NCI-H1299 lung, MDA-MB-468 breast, T98G glioma, and TE671 rhabdomyosarcoma cancer cells. MGN was isolated from the roots of Berberis cretica L. by counter-current partition chromatography (CPC). Cell viability and proliferation assessments were performed by means of MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and 5-bromo-2ʹ-deoxyuridine (BrDU) assays, respectively. The induction of apoptosis and cell cycle progression was measured using fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. MGN in high doses inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis, and inhibits cell cycle in S/G2 phases in a dose-dependent manner. MGN seems to be a promising anti-cancer compound in therapy of some types of lung, breast, glioma, and rhabdomyosarcoma cancers, for which current standard therapies are limited or have severe strong side effects.