Description
Palmatine is an isoquinoline alkaloid found in Corydalis, Phellodendron, Enantia, and other plants. Palmatine exhibits sedative, antidepressant, antioxidative, anti-ulcerative, antacid, anticancer, and anti-metastatic activities. Palmatine binds hemoglobin and DNA at AT base pairs. In animal models, palmatine decreases locomotor activity and levels of dopamine, 5-HT, and homovanillic acid. In prostate cancer cells, palmatine decreases growth and invasion as well as activation of FLIP and NF-κB. Palmatine also decreases immobility time in animals undergoing the forced swim test and tail suspension test. In separate animal models, this compound acts as a radical scavenger, inhibits Helicobacter growth, and decreases gastric ulcer formation.