Plant alkaloids and their effects on enzymes metabolizing xenobiotics

Sanguinarine and chelerythrine are quaternary benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids. The first step in sanguinarine metabolism is its reduction to dihydrosanguinarin. Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of these alkaloids are used in dentistry and as feed additives. Sanguinarine and chelerythrine induce apoptosis of cells. Fluorescence of these alkaloids and intercalation into DNA could be utilized to use the alkaloids as supravital DNA probe. Negative effect of sanguinarine and chelerythrine is their genotoxicity. Cytochrome P450 and peroxidase oxidize ellipticine to detoxication and activation metabolites. Ellipticine is a potent antineoplastic agent exhibiting the multimodal mechanism of its action. Ellipticine intercalates into DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II. Covalent DNA aducts are mediated by CYP or peroxidase oxidation of ellipticine. The anti-tumor activity of ellipticine and its derivatives is caused by a combination mechanism of cell cycle arrest and induction of the apoptotic pathway. Pharmacological efficiencies and geneotoxic side effects of ellipticine is dependent on levels and activities of cytochrome P450 or peroxidase in target tissues. Aristolactams are the major metabolites of biotransformation of aristolochic acid. Nitroreduction is the crucial step in formation of an..