cryptolepine

Cryptolepine is a natural indoloquinoline alkaloid found predominantly in the roots of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta and other plants[1][2]. It exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antimalarial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiprotozoal, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-hyperglycemic, antipyretic, antimuscarinic, and acetylcholinesterase/butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory effects[1][2][3][4][6][7]. Cryptolepine operates via multiple mechanisms: it intercalates into DNA (particularly between cytosine-guanine base pairs), inhibits topoisomerase II, suppresses DNA synthesis[1][3][8], and blocks key oncogenic and inflammatory pathways such as p53, STAT3, and PI3K/Akt[3]. It has promising activity against malaria, several protozoal and bacterial infections, as well as a variety of cancers, including breast cancer[3][6]. Additionally, it functions as a multi-target cholinesterase inhibitor, relevant for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease[1].

Other names

cryptolepine5-methylindolo[3,2-b]quinoline5H-Quindoline, 5-methyl-CCRIS 9019CCRIS9019CCRIS-9019