Harnessing the Power of Alkaloids in Breast Cancer Treatment: A Review of Therapeutic Efficacy and Challenges
Abstract:
Cancer is a
massive public health concern on a global scale. Developed nations have greater
rates of breast cancer. Survival rates have increased as a result of early
discovery. However, there are still major ongoing challenges which include
variances in the availability of care, aggressive tumor subtypes, and the
emergence of treatment resistance. These medical procedures have been linked
with various adverse effects, prompting the usage of natural substances because
they have less to no negative impact. Among these natural compounds is the
class of alkaloids. These phytochemicals form a wide range of organic compounds
that are naturally present and mostly derived from plant-kinds, but then they
are also found in microbes, yeasts, and faunas. Characterized by nitrogen
atoms, alkaloids exhibit more biological properties, making them of significant
interest in various research fields. Alkaloids exhibit antiproliferative,
antibacterial, and antioxidant properties and act as an abundant source for
drug discovery and development. This study reviews the alkaloids matrine,
noscapine, capsaicin, harmine, and Mahanine and describes their modes of
action. These alkaloids can be utilized as tools of combination treatment and
have been illustrated to initiate autophagy, reduce tumor volume, cause
apoptosis, disrupt microtubule function, inhibit topoisomerase enzymes, and
signaling pathway alterations involved in cell growth and survival to inhibit
cell multiplication and migration. This review presents comprehensive data on
the therapeutic potential of alkaloids against breast cancer.
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