Phytotherapeutic applications of alkaloids in treating breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the major causes of mortality in women worldwide. The current treatments available are radiation therapy (RT), surgery, endocrine (hormone) therapy (ET), chemotherapy (CT), and targeted therapy. These treatments are associated with certain side effects that demand the use of natural compounds due to their lower to negligible side effects. One such category of natural compounds is alkaloids. Alkaloids are a group of natural compounds that have gained widespread attention due to their use as potential therapeutics. Alkaloids exert anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties along with antimicrobial activities. In the current review, 12 alkaloids are reviewed in detail for their potential in treating breast cancer. These alkaloids have been shown to induce apoptosis, decrease tumor volume, inhibit cell proliferation and migration, and induce autophagy and they can also be used as a component of combination therapy. This review provides comprehensive information on the in vitro and in vivo therapeutic abilities of alkaloids to counteract breast cancer.