Role of Alkaloidal Drugs in Cancer Treatment: A Review

Approximately 20% of plant species naturally produce nitrogen-based secondary me-tabolites known as alkaloids. Many classes of alkaloids, including indoles, purines, quinolines, isoquinolines, tropanes, and imidazoles, are distinguished by their heterocyclic ring structures and metabolic antecedents. Their medical characteristics have been the subject of extensive re-search due to their therapeutic potential. Since cancer is the cause of ten million deaths globally each year, plant-based medications are good candidates for successful chemopreventive thera-pies. Secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids, have been shown to prevent cancer formation by regulating apoptosis, angiogenesis, microtubule assembly, and metabolic and signalling path-ways. Well-known alkaloids have been effectively developed into anticancer drugs, including irinotecan, vindesine, vinblastine, vinorelbine, vincristine, topotecan, docetaxel, and paclitaxel. This study reviews the biological origins, metabolites, and side effects of marketed and experi-mental alkaloids used in cancer treatment.