Group of Alkaloids, the Novel Autophagic Enhancers for Treatment of Cancers and Neurodegenerative Conditions Thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method of treating cancer comprising administering an effective amount of an alkaloid, in which the alkaloid is liensinine, isoliensinine, dauricine, cepharanthine, hernandezine or thalidezine and isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. The use of the alkaloid in treating neurodegenerative disorder is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating cancer comprising administering an effective amount of an alkaloid to a subject in need thereof, wherein said alkaloid is selected from a group consisting of isoquinoline alkaloid, bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, biscoclaurine alkaloid and bisisoquinoline alkaloid. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said isoquinoline alkaloid is liensinine 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid is selected from a group consisting of isoliensinine, dauricine and hernandezine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said biscoclaurine alkaloid is cepharanthine. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said bisisoquinoline alkaloid is thalidezine. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said cancer is selected from a group consisting of cervical cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said alkaloid exhibits specific cytotoxic effect towards a panel of human cancer cells. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said cancer is treatable by alkaloids-mediated autophagy. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said alkaloids-mediated autophagy is autophagy-related gene 7 dependent. 
     
     
         10 . A method of treating neurodegenerative disorder comprising administering an effective amount of an alkaloid to a subject in need thereof, wherein said alkaloid is selected from a group consisting of isoquinoline alkaloid, bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, biscoclaurine alkaloid and bisisoquinoline alkaloid. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said isoquinoline alkaloid is liensinine. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said said bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid is selected from a group consisting of isoliensinine, dauricine and hernandezine. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said biscoclaurine alkaloid is cepharanthine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said neurodegenerative disorder is caused by cells containing mutant huntingtin HDQ55/74. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said neurodegenerative disorder is Huntington's disease. 
     
     
         16 . A pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising an alkaloid, wherein said alkaloid is selected from a group consisting of isoquinoline alkaloid, bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, biscoclaurine alkaloid and bisisoquinoline alkaloid. 
     
     
         17 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 16  wherein said isoquinoline alkaloid is liensinine. 
     
     
         18 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 16  wherein said bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid is selected from a group consisting of isoliensinine, dauricine and hernandezine. 
     
     
         19 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 16  wherein said bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid is selected from a group consisting of isoliensinine, dauricine and hernandezine. 
     
     
         20 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 16  wherein said biscoclaurine alkaloid is cepharanthine. 
     
     
         21 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 16  wherein said cancer is selected from a group consisting of cervical cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer. 
     
     
         22 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 16  wherein cancer is treatable by alkaloids-mediated autophagy. 
     
     
         23 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 22  wherein said alkaloids-mediated autophagy is autophagy-related gene 7 dependent. 
     
     
         24 . A pharmaceutical composition for treating neurodegenerative disorder comprising an alkaloid, wherein said alkaloid is selected from a group consisting of isoquinoline alkaloid, bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, biscoclaurine alkaloid and bisisoquinoline alkaloid. 
     
     
         25 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 24  wherein said isoquinoline alkaloid is liensinine 
     
     
         26 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 24  wherein said bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid is selected from a group consisting of isoliensinine, dauricine and hernandezine. 
     
     
         27 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 24  wherein said bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid is selected from a group consisting of isoliensinine, dauricine and hernandezine. 
     
     
         28 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 24  wherein said biscoclaurine alkaloid is cepharanthine. 
     
     
         29 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 24  wherein said neurodegenerative disorder is caused by cells containing mutant huntingtin HDQ55/74. 
     
     
         30 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 24  wherein said neurodegenerative disorder is selected from a group of consisting of Huntington's disease.