Chemopreventive Activity of Isoquinoline Alkaloids from Corydalis Plants

Abstract

Eighteen isoquinoline alkaloids including protoberberines (1 - 12), benzophenanthridines (13 - 16) and an aporphine (17) isolated from plants of Corydalis species (Fumariaceae) were tested for inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen activation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate in Raji cells. In a primary screening test, all of the isoquinoline alkaloids showed inhibitory activity with the IC₅₀ values being in the range of 140 - 410 mol ratio/32 pmol TPA. The data demonstrate that these isoquinoline alkaloids might be valuable as anti-tumor promoters.

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