Fangchinoline (2021-2026): A Multitarget Bisbenzylisoquinoline Alkaloid With Emerging Anti-Infective Potential

Fangchinoline (FC) is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid reported mainly from the traditional Chinese medicinal plant, Stephania tetrandra. FC has garnered scientific attention because of its wide-ranging biological properties and multitargeted mechanisms of action. This review summarizes the reported studies on the pharmacological activities of FC from 2021 to August 2026, with particular attention to its anti-infective activities and associated mechanisms.

A thorough literature search was conducted through various databases, including ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, together with publishers' websites (e.g., Elsevier, Wiley, Springer, Taylor & Francis, Sage, Thieme, and Bentham) from 2021 to August 2026.

Recent studies have investigated the activity of FC against several viral and microbial pathogens using different experimental models. Across these studies, the reported antiviral mechanisms included interference with viral entry and internalization, alteration of endolysosomal trafficking and autophagy, and modulation of innate immune signaling. Antimicrobial studies reported activity against Candida albicans and intracellular Salmonella, with enhancement of lysosomal function reported in the latter model. FC has also demonstrated hepatoprotective, antifibrotic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and other biological activities in preclinical models.

Collectively, these findings demonstrate the potential of FC as a multitarget natural scaffold with reported antiviral, antimicrobial, and other pharmacological activities; however, the evidence remains predominantly preclinical. Further studies are required to clarify its mechanisms of action and establish its pharmacokinetic, bioavailability, and safety profiles and to determine whether the reported anti-infective activities can be translated into clinically relevant applications.