Emetine: Advances in Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Chromatographic Approaches

Emetine, derived from Psychotria ipecacuanha, is a tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid known for its diverse pharmacological activities, making it a versatile candidate for therapeutic applications. It has demonstrated efficacy against various conditions, including cancer and other viral infections by disrupting viral protein synthesis and assembly, particularly against influenza and Ebola viruses. Despite its therapeutic potential, concerns about cardiotoxicity have limited its clinical use, prompting exploration into safer administration routes and novel formulations. Emetine's anti-cancer properties involve inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in breast cancer cells and showing promise in treating pulmonary arterial hypertension by suppressing pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation. Liquid chromatography plays a pivotal role in characterizing and quantifying emetine and related compounds, crucial for drug development and quality control by enhancing detection sensitivity and specificity in samples. Addressing concerns over emetine's toxicity novel approaches like pH-dependent prodrugs and targeted delivery systems are under development to improve safety and efficacy profiles. This review consolidates current knowledge on emetine's pharmacology and the essential role of analytical methodologies in its study and development. It focuses on recent advancements from 1979 to 2024 in liquid chromatography analysis and applications of emetine and its derivatives in drug research, health sciences, as well as forensic purposes.