Alkaloids Used as Medicines: Structural Phytochemistry Meets Biodiversity—An Update and Forward Look

Abstract

Selecting candidates for drug developments using computational design and empirical rules has resulted in a broad discussion about their success. In a previous study, we had shown that a species’ abundance [as expressed by the GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)] dataset is a core determinant for the development of a natural product into a medicine. Our overarching aim is to understand the unique requirements for natural product-based drug development. Web of Science was queried for research on alkaloids in combination with plant systematics/taxonomy. All alkaloids containing species demonstrated an average increase of 8.66 in GBIF occurrences between 2014 and 2020. Medicinal Species with alkaloids show higher abundance compared to non-medicinal alkaloids, often linked also to cultivation. Alkaloids with high biodiversity are often simple alkaloids found in multiple species with the presence of ’driver species‘ and are more likely to be included in early-stage drug development compared to ‘rare’ alkaloids. Similarly, the success of an alkaloid containing species as a food supplement (‘botanical’) is linked to its abundance. GBIF is a useful tool for assessing the druggability of a compound from a certain source species. The success of any development programme from natural sources must take sustainable sourcing into account right from the start.

Cardioprotective Potential of Aqueous Extract of Fumaria indica on Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Infarction in SD Rats

“…These findings partly explain the negative chronotropic and ionotropic effects of F. indica. Previous studies have shown that alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenols exhibit cardioprotective activity [60]. Therefore, the content of alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenols reported in F. indica extract might be responsible for myocardial cell membrane protective activity.…”

Anti-breast cancer effects of phytochemicals: primary, secondary, and tertiary care

“…Alkaloids can be subdivided into numerous sub-classes. As stated by Heinrich et al in October 2020, the Dictionary of Natural Products included 27,683 alkaloids [ 20 ]. Organosulfur compounds include isothiocyanates, indoles, allylic sulfur compounds, and sulforaphane [ 15 ] …”

Alkaloids as Photosensitisers for the Inactivation of Bacteria

“…Alkaloids are one of the largest family of natural products with a diverse range of medical applications, including analgesic, central nervous stimulant/depressant, anticholinergic, antitumour, and antiparasitic activities [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. They have been used in traditional medicine for centuries because of their presence in bacteria, fungi, plants, amphibians, insects, mammals, and humans; more than 18,000 alkaloids have been discovered thus far [ 13 ].…”