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Current Drug Metabolism

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1389-2002
ISSN (Online): 1875-5453

Review Article

Pharmacological and Toxicological Profile of Harmane-β-Carboline Alkaloid: Friend or Foe

Author(s): Haroon Khan*, Seema Patel and Mohammad A. Kamal

Volume 18, Issue 9, 2017

Page: [853 - 857] Pages: 5

DOI: 10.2174/1389200218666170607100947

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: The plant secondary metabolites have an outstanding therapeutic potential and success over the years. In fact, it is the foundation of numerous clinically used drugs. Similarly, these is a general perception that these products are inherent safety. However, such products might have toxic/unwanted lethal effects therefore, along with biological relevance, toxicological evaluation is equally important for clinical applications. Therefore, harmane- β-carboline alkaloid was investigated for both therapeutic and toxicological potential.

Methods: The literature related to the therapeutic/toxicological effects of the alkaloid was searched using various scientific data bases including Google, ScienceDirect, PubMed, SpringerLink, ASC. The peer reviewed articles were only selected.

Results: The harmane-β-carboline alkaloid has shown several pharmacological activities such as antianxiety, antidepressant, antiplatelet, antidiabetic, acetylcholinesterase and myeloperoxidase inhibition, antioxidant, antiparasitic, hypotensive, morphine withdrawal syndrome alleviation, and antinociceptive effects. On the other hand, it exhibited tremorogenic effect, for a symptom of Parkinson's disease. Adverse effect of the alkaloid on learning and memory have also been observed.

Conclusions: All together, it is, concluded in this review that harmane elicited marked pharmacological effects but simultaneously, it possessed some serious side effects that could be the primary hurdle in the way of its clinical testing.

Keywords: Harmane-β-carboline alkaloid, pharmacological effects, toxicological potential, neuropathology, parkinson's disease, pharmacokinetic profile.

Graphical Abstract


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