Advances in Antioxidant Potential of Natural Alkaloids

Oxidative injury or cellular damage developing from free radicals or reactive oxygen species (ROS) seems to be the basic mechanism involved in the etiology of different ailments such as neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, inflammatory and other chronic diseases. The data proposes that ROS of any origin can be quench using natural scavengers contained by our daily foods and medicinal plants. In this context, the search of novel antioxidant compounds from natural sources has been increased. The alkaloids consist of most abundant naturally occurring group of secondary metabolites in plant-kingdom. Their different biological activities such as cardiovascular, anti-ulcer, antispasmodic, antirheumatic, antiinflammatory, antinociceptive and antibacterial have been ascribed to different compounds belonging to this chemical group. Moreover, the broad range of biological activities makes many alkaloids prominent starting point for chemical medicinal chemistry. The literature reviewed in this article, summarized by an informative and easy-to-understand table, will focus on the advances in antioxidant potential of natural alkaloids, paving the way for new pharmaceutical and/or pharmacological studies.