Bisbenzylisoquinoline Alkaloids

Abstract

The first comprehensive tabular review of the bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids was published by Guha et al. in this journal in early 1979 (110) and reported on the literature through 1977. This was followed by a second review, also published in this journal, which described the literature from 1978 through 1981 and was published in early 1983 (111).

Chemosensitizing action of cepharanthine against drug-resistant human malaria, Plasmodium falciparum

“…Ethnomedical reports of Stephania erecta make no mention of its antimalarial potential but do cite use in Thailand as a skeletal muscle relaxant and analgesic (Likhitwitayawuid et al, 1993). Previous phytochemical work on this plant revealed the presence of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids (Likhitwitayawuid et al, 1993), which are phenylalanine-derived metabolites that mediate a variety of activities, including antimicrobial, anticancer, and antiplasmodial effects (Schiff, 1991). Cepharanthine, in particular, has been shown to have anticancer, antiplasmodial, and anti-inflammatory activities (Schiff, 1991).…”

“…Previous phytochemical work on this plant revealed the presence of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids (Likhitwitayawuid et al, 1993), which are phenylalanine-derived metabolites that mediate a variety of activities, including antimicrobial, anticancer, and antiplasmodial effects (Schiff, 1991). Cepharanthine, in particular, has been shown to have anticancer, antiplasmodial, and anti-inflammatory activities (Schiff, 1991). Shiraishi et al (1987) have shown that cepharanthine can also reverse the drug-resistant phenotype in KB cells by interacting with P-glycoprotein.…”

Tetrandrine Inhibits Proinflammatory Cytokines, iNOS and COX-2 Expression in Human Monocytic Cells

“…It is traditionally used in China for treating patients with arthritis, arrhythmia, hypertension, inflammation and silicosis. [9][10][11] Previous reports indicated that TET possesses anticancer, 12) immunosuppressive, 13) and free radical scavenging 14) activities. Although its mechanism of anti-inflammation remains unclear, TET has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory effect on mouse ear edema.…”

Antibacterial, antifungal, antiplasmodial, and cytotoxic activities of Albertisia villosa

“…In addition to antiplasmodial, bactericidal, cytotoxic, and fungicidal properties tested in this study, other biological effects of cycleanine have been reported (Schiff, 1991) and may explain the use of Albertisia villosa root bark for the treatment of other diseases in traditional medicine. Thus, tablets of cycleanine (2 mg) were found to cause 91% inhibition of 12-O-tetracanoyl phorbol-13-acetate-promoted tumor in rat ear.…”

“…The decoction of its root barks is used against malaria and many infectious diseases (Kambu, 1990). This is not surprising because this botanical family is known for its many bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids (Schiff, 1983), many of which have exhibited various pharmacological effects including antimalarial activity (Watanabe et al, 1985;Likhitwitayawuid et al, 1993;Valentin et al, 1997;Angerhofer et al, 1999).…”