Dauricine is a bioactive alkaloid with anticancer properties extracted from Menispermum dauricum DC. Dauricine inhibits tumor cell proliferation and induces apoptosis by suppressing signaling pathways such as Hedgehog, PI3K/Akt, and Src/STAT3[1-2]. Dauricine is applicable for research in various cancers and Alzheimer's disease[3-4].
In vitro, PC9-OR and H1975-OR osimertinib-resistant lung cancer cell lines were co-treated with Dauricine (0-100μM) and osimertinib. Dauricine induced ferroptosis in the cells, significantly inhibiting their viability[5]. A549, H1299, A427, and LLC lung adenocarcinoma cells were treated with Dauricine (5–20μM) for 24–48 hours. Dauricine significantly inhibited cell proliferation and migration, induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, downregulated Nrf2 expression, and ultimately triggered apoptosis[6].
In vivo, nude mice bearing BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer xenografts were treated with daily intraperitoneal injections of Dauricine (6mg/kg and 12mg/kg) for 21 days. Dauricine significantly inhibited tumor growth without markedly affecting the spleen index[7]. Ten-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were treated with intraperitoneal injections of Dauricine (2.5mg/kg; every two days) in combination with LPS (5mg/kg; once a week) for 3 weeks. Dauricine significantly alleviated LPS-induced inflammatory bone loss[8].
References:
[1] Chen KQ, Wang SZ, Lei HB, et al. Dauricine: Review of Pharmacological Activity. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2024 Sep 27;18:4371-4385.
[2] Li L, Dai S, Liu JY, et al. Antagonistic Effect and In Vitro Activity of Dauricine on Glucagon Receptor. J Nat Prod. 2022 Aug 26;85(8):2035-2043.
[3] Zhang X, Wang T, Miao Y, et al. Dauricine exhibits anti-inflammatory property against acute ulcerative colitis via the regulation of NF-κB pathway. Cell Biochem Funct. 2023 Aug;41(6):713-721.
[4] Wang L, Pu Z, Li M, et al. Antioxidative and antiapoptosis: Neuroprotective effects of dauricine in Alzheimer's disease models. Life Sci. 2020 Feb 15;243:117237.
[5] Men B, Chen Z, Ge H, et al. Dauricine Overcomes Osimertinib Resistance in Lung Cancer by Inducing Ferroptosis via Stabilizing SAT1. Cancer Sci. 2025 Aug;116(8):2256-2269.
[6] Yousuf W, Siddiqui NZ, Ali P, et al. Dauricine Impedes the Tumorigenesis of Lung Adenocarcinoma by Regulating Nrf2 and Reactive Oxygen Species. Cells. 2025 May 12;14(10):698.
[7] Zhang YB, Fei HX, Guo J, et al. Dauricine suppresses the growth of pancreatic cancer in vivo by modulating the Hedgehog signaling pathway. Oncol Lett. 2019 Nov;18(5):4403-4414.
[8] Park HJ, Gholam Zadeh M, et al. Dauricine Protects from LPS-Induced Bone Loss via the ROS/PP2A/NF-κB Axis in Osteoclasts. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Jul 6;9(7):588.