Dauricine: a review of natural observation, pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics

Menispermum dauricum DC (the moonseed family Menispermaceae) was used to treat various diseases, such as inflammatory disorders, and arrhythmia. Dauricine (DRC) is the principal bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid found in the roots of this medicinal plant. To date, there is still a lack of documents that review natural occurrence, and pharmacological and pharmacokinetic studies regarding this molecule. The current research tends to fill this gap. References have been systematically searched from the Web’s largest databases, such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, Sci-Finder, PubMed, and others, for relevant literature. The current review has also covered the pharmacological processes and mechanisms of the studied compound in a visible arrangement. DRC has possessed a great variety of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and vasorelaxant, as well as protection to the brain, bone, and lungs. The underlying mechanisms relate to various signaling pathways, in which the NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B) can be seen as the main route. Pharmacokinetic actions of DRC may relate to the loss of proton and methyl groups, and/or the addition of hydroxyl and sugar units, whereas its absolute bioavailability is found to be less than 50%. The other pharmacological assays are expected. More studies mentioning clinical experiments, toxicology, and bioavailability are encouraged. Structural modification is such a good approach to enhance pharmacological value and reduce toxicity