生物碱中的一些种类用于治疗癌症已有相当长的一段时间。回顾了近年来在分子、细胞及生理水平上这些生物碱抗肿瘤的作用机制,包括长春花生物碱类、喜树碱、秋水仙碱、玫瑰树碱等。同时也涉及多药耐药现象。

Alkaloids derived from natural products have long been used as a fertile source of cure for cancer, which is believed to be one of the major causes of death in this century. This article reviews the recent advances of many structures of alkaloids in understanding mechanism of action at the molecular, cellular and physiological levels. The important molecules discussed include vincristine, vinblastine, camptothecin, colchicine, ellipticine etc. The review also discussed the potential use of plant alkaloids on multidrug resistance.