Therapeutic value of steroidal alkaloids in cancer: Current trends and future perspectives

Abstract

Discovery and development of new potentially selective anticancer agents are necessary to prevent a global cancer health crisis. Currently, alternative medicinal agents derived from plants have been extensively investigated to develop anticancer drugs with fewer adverse effects. Among them, steroidal alkaloids are conventional secondary metabolites that comprise an important class of natural products found in plants, marine organisms and invertebrates, and constitute a judicious choice as potential anti‐cancer leads. Traditional medicine and modern science have shown that representatives from this compound group possess potential antimicrobial, analgesic, anticancer and anti‐inflammatory effects. Therefore, systematic and recapitulated information about the bioactivity of these compounds, with special emphasis on the molecular or cellular mechanisms, is of high interest. In this review, we methodically discuss the in vitro and in vivo potential of the anticancer activity of natural steroidal alkaloids and their synthetic and semi‐synthetic derivatives. This review focuses on cumulative and comprehensive molecular mechanisms, which will help researchers understand the molecular pathways involving steroid alkaloids to generate a selective and safe new lead compound with improved therapeutic applications for cancer prevention and therapy. In vitro and in vivo studies provide evidence about the promising therapeutic potential of steroidal alkaloids in various cancer cell lines, but advanced pharmacokinetic and clinical experiments are required to develop more selective and safe drugs for cancer treatment.

Ginsenoside Compound K Induces Ros-Mediated Apoptosis and Autophagic Inhibition in Human Neuroblastoma Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

“…Despite advances in treatment modalities such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, neuroblastoma is generally progressive and very malignant, with long-term survival rates of <40% for children with advanced and metastatic disease [3,4,5]. Presently, the development of alternative medicines derived from plants with low side effects is being studied extensively [6]. Accumulating evidence reveals that these anticancer drugs induce various cell death mechanisms, including apoptosis and autophagy in several types of cancer cells [7,8,9].…”

Analysis of alkaloids (indole alkaloids, isoquinoline alkaloids, tropane alkaloids)

“…15.6). (Ata and Andersh, 2008;Dey et al, 2018;Habermehl, 1967;Keeler, 1986;Ripperger, 1998;Tomko and Votický, 1973;Zhao et al, 2015) 1,2-Cyclopentane phenanthrene ring system is the characteristic of this type of alkaloids. They are typically originated from higher plants, which belong to Liliaceae, Solanaceae, Apocynaceae, Buxaceae families, but some are also isolated from amphibians too.…”

Health Benefits of Underutilized Vegetables and Legumes

“…Various alkaloids are pharmacologically well characterized and are used as clinical drugs, ranging from cancer chemotherapeutics to analgesic agents. For example, vinblastine and vincristine are vinca alkaloids obtained from the Madagascar periwinkle Catharanthus roseus [84]. Several classes of alkaloids including terpenoidal, indole, bisindole, quinoline, and isoquinoline alkaloids were recognized with a promising antimalarial activity [85].…”