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Emerging Alkaloids Against Cancer: A Peep into Factors, Regulation, and Molecular Mechanisms

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Bioactive Natural Products for the Management of Cancer: from Bench to Bedside

Abstract

Chemoprevention by the use of plant-derived alkaloids has gained attention worldwide to reduce the burden of malignantly transformed neoplastic cells on overall health and well-being. These active agents follow different molecular routes to block, suppress, and prevent the metastasis of cancerous cells. Alkaloids are plant-derived secondary metabolites that contain heterocyclic nitrogen and are well exploited as immunomodulators to prevent mutagenesis and inflammation along with antibacterial and anticancerous agents. Their mode of action includes alteration of enzymes or certain transcription factors involved at various stages of cancer progression or to deal with resistance of cancerous cells to various drugs. These alkaloids also enhance the availability of anticancerous drugs at various target sites. Alkaloids play a crucial role in regulating cell cycle by increasing cancerous cell death, angiogenesis, autophagy, alteration of mitochondrial membrane, and COX-2, Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL regulation for inducing caspase activity. Alkaloids also act as inhibitors of telomerase, STAT-3, and PI3K/Akt signaling events. Further, research is required for validation of exact anticancer mechanism of novel alkaloids for their use in combination therapy. Effective drug delivery system with clinical anticancer trials can further strengthen the research in this area.

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  1. Ludhiana, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

    Priya Katyal & Shivani Sharma

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  1. Priya Katyal
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  2. Shivani Sharma
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  1. Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University) Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India

    Anil K. Sharma

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Katyal, P., Sharma, S. (2019). Emerging Alkaloids Against Cancer: A Peep into Factors, Regulation, and Molecular Mechanisms. In: Sharma, A. (eds) Bioactive Natural Products for the Management of Cancer: from Bench to Bedside. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7607-8_2

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