Dictamnine and Related Quinoline Alkaloids from Dictamnus: From Phytochemistry to Biological Activities and Toxicity
- 1Department of Fermentation Technology and Microbiology, Faculty of Food Technology, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Aleja Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Krakow, Poland
Abstract
Quinoline alkaloids constitute an important and structurally diverse class of secondary metabolites occurring in the genus Dictamnus. Among these compounds, dictamnine is the most extensively investigated alkaloid. This review summarizes the phytochemical diversity, structural features, and biosynthetic aspects of Dictamnus quinoline alkaloids, with particular emphasis on the biological, pharmacological, pharmacokinetic, and toxicological properties of dictamnine. Dictamnine has been investigated for its anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, antifeedant, and vasorelaxant effects, involving multiple molecular and cellular mechanisms. Other quinoline alkaloids also exhibit diverse biological activities; however, their pharmacological properties and mechanisms of action remain considerably less characterized than those of dictamnine. Importantly, the biological effects of these compounds should be evaluated in the context of their safety and toxicological profiles. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge of Dictamnus quinoline alkaloids and highlights the need for further studies addressing their mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic properties, and safety.
Related
- Developmental Dynamics of Bioactive Composition and Biological Activities of Methanolic Extracts from Orange (Citrus sinensis) Peel: Comprehensive Metabolite Profiling, Antioxidant Capacity, and Antibacterial Activity
- Chemical Characterization and In Vitro Biological Activities of Essential Oil from Oxalis corniculata L. Collected in the Ecuador Highlands
- Comparative phytochemical characterization and in vitro biological activities of coffee (Coffea arabica) and loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) seed extracts
- Metabolite Profile and Biological Activities of Zanthoxylum nemorale: A Metabolomic and Multivariate Statistical Analysis Study
- Integrative Assessment of Teucrium Extracts: Phytochemical Profile, Nutritional-Mineral Composition, Biological Activities, and Toxicological Assessment In Vitro and In Vivo.
BibTeX
@article{blaszczyk2026dictamnine,
title = {{Dictamnine and Related Quinoline Alkaloids from Dictamnus: From Phytochemistry to Biological Activities and Toxicity}},
author = {Urszula Błaszczyk},
journal = {Molecules},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/molecules31213805},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/21/3805},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Dictamnine and Related Quinoline Alkaloids from Dictamnus: From Phytochemistry to Biological Activities and Toxicity
AU - Urszula Błaszczyk
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - Molecules
DO - 10.3390/molecules31213805
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/21/3805
AB - Quinoline alkaloids constitute an important and structurally diverse class of secondary metabolites occurring in the genus Dictamnus. Among these compounds, dictamnine is the most extensively investigated alkaloid. This review summarizes the phytochemical diversity, structural features, and biosynthetic aspects of Dictamnus quinoline alkaloids, with particular emphasis on the biological, pharmacological, pharmacokinetic, and toxicological properties of dictamnine. Dictamnine has been investigated for its anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, antifeedant, and vasorelaxant effects, involving multiple molecular and cellular mechanisms. Other quinoline alkaloids also exhibit diverse biological activities; however, their pharmacological properties and mechanisms of action remain considerably less characterized than those of dictamnine. Importantly, the biological effects of these compounds should be evaluated in the context of their safety and toxicological profiles. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge of Dictamnus quinoline alkaloids and highlights the need for further studies addressing their mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic properties, and safety.
SN - 1420-3049
ER -