Plant isoquinoline alkaloids: Advances in the chemistry and biology of berberine

Alkaloids are one of the most important classes of plant bioactives. Among these isoquinoline alkaloids possess varied structures and exhibit numerous biological activities. Basically these are biosynthetically produced via phenylpropanoid pathway. However, occasionally some mixed pathways may also occur to provide structural divergence. Among the various biological activities anticancer, antidiabetic, antiinflammatory, and antimicrobial are important. A few notable bioactive isoquinoline alkaloids are anti-diabetic berberine, anti-tussive codeine, analgesic morphine, and muscle relaxant papaverine etc. Berberine is one of the most discussed bioactives from this class possessing broad-spectrum pharmacological activities. Present review aims at recent updates of isoquinoline alkaloids with major emphasis on berberine, its detailed chemistry, important biological activities, structure activity relationship and implementation in future research. (C) 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Isoquinoline alkaloids are important plant bioactives with diverse structures and various biological activities, including anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. Berberine, as one of the most prominent bioactive compounds in this class, possesses broad-spectrum pharmacological activities and is widely researched.