Naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids potential drug leads

Area of Science:

• Natural Product Chemistry
• Phytochemistry
• Medicinal Chemistry

Background:

• Naphthylisoquinolines are unique secondary metabolites containing naphthalene and isoquinoline structures.
• These compounds are exclusively found in the palaeotropic plant families Dioncophyllaceae and Ancistrocladaceae.
• Naturally occurring naphthylisoquinolines exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review research on naphthylisoquinolines from 1995 to the present.
• To discuss their occurrence, isolation, identification, biological activities, and biosynthesis.
• To explore their chemotaxonomic significance and molecular mechanisms of action.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific publications from 1995 to present.
• Analysis of research on the isolation and identification of naphthylisoquinoline metabolites.
• Synthesis of information regarding biological activities and biosynthetic pathways.

Main Results:

• Over 125 naphthylisoquinoline metabolites have been described in the literature.
• The review details the diverse biological properties and known biosynthetic routes of these compounds.
• Chemotaxonomic relevance and molecular targets are discussed, supported by 99 references.

Conclusions:

• Naphthylisoquinolines represent a significant class of natural products with diverse biological potential.
• This review consolidates current knowledge, highlighting areas for future research in their chemistry and pharmacology.
• Further investigation into their molecular targets and biosynthetic pathways is warranted.