Chemistry and biology of Stemona alkaloids

The Stemonaceae family has been included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia as an antitussive drug, and the alkaloids contained within this family have attracted much attention due to their diverse biological activities and unique structures. From 1962 to 2024, 262 Stemona alkaloids had been isolated and identification. However, the process of exploitation is hindered by the presence of low extraction and separation rates. In recent years, there has been a significant advancement in the synthesis of Stemona alkaloids, with approximately 19 % of them realizing the total synthesis. Here, we reviewed Stemona alkaloids into eight distinct classifications with Pilli's seminal classification approach, and systematically summarized synthesis pathways by the type of reactions to construct the core skeleton. To provide a comprehensive overview of the application of Stemona alkaloids, we have also summarized the biological activities of these alkaloids.