Bioactive Herbal Alkaloids as Anti-Infective Agents

E-ISSN： 2211-3533|11|1|71-75

ISSN： 2211-3525

Source： Anti-Infective Agents, Vol.11, Iss.1, 2012-11, pp. : 71-75

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

Previous Menu Next

Abstract

Isoquinoline alkaloids belong to a large family of aromatic compounds with over 400 members. Their biologicalactivities include antimalarial, anti-HIV, insect growth retarding antitumor, antimicrobial. They are present in a varietyof plants including medicinal herbs. Naturally occurring isoquinoline compounds have a protective function againstinsects. Isoquinoline alkaloids are associated with quinoline alkaloids and constitute an important division of the alkaloidfamily. Berberine which is one of most common examples of isoquinoline alkaloids has been well studied as an antiinfectiveagent. Berberine showed significant antimicrobial activity against several microbes through inhibiting the assemblyfunction of FtsZ and the bacteria cell division. Other active alkaloids have effectively been used in the treatmentof chronic inflammation, asthma and infection. Recent studies also indicate that herbal alkaloids show different pharmacologicaland anti-infective activities. In the present review, the recent development and the biologic activity of activeplant alkaloids as an infective agent is described.