Biological Activity of the Protoberberine Alkaloids

The pharmacological investigations being carried out with the protoberberine alkaloids have been showing, as the years advance, a growing and relevant number of very important biological activities. 

Based on the data compiled between 1986 and 2001, one can effectively observe that very simple living systems, such as bacteria and fungi, and more complex organic systems, have shown susceptibility to the diverse biological activities exercised by the protoberberine alkaloids. This fact denotes the number of possibilities that can arise in the near future for the utilization of this class of alkaloids as tools to benefit health care, in the area of experimental pharmacology, or even as preventive or curative therapeutic agents. 

The uses related so far can be classified into a number of important biological areas, as can be seen below. 

A number of different activities against pathogenic agents are already attributed to this class of alkaloids. They are used as antiseptic 347), antiparasitic (557), antitrypanosomal 360), insecticide 409), moluscicidal 420), antifongal 509), and antileishmaniasis agents 484), among many other activities. 

Another important group of activities attributed to the protoberberine alkaloids is those related to specific organic systems. 

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