Inhibition of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels by Natural Alkaloids: Pharmacological and Therapeutic Effects

Medicinal plants are the oldest and the most common form of medication against health issues. Several studies have demonstrated that plant extracts and their secondary metabolites represent an interesting source for drug discovery. Alkaloids, a major group of naturally occurring organic nitrogen-containing bases, have been shown to be implicated in many physiological processes through the modulation of ion channels, in particular, voltage-gated calcium channels. Calcium channels are the key molecules responsible for the regulation of major intracellular processes through the mediation of calcium entry into cells in response to membrane depolarization. They are divided into two broad categories The high (L-, N-, P-, Q- and R-types calcium channels) and the low (T-type calcium channels) threshold-activated calcium channels. However, calcium channels dysfunction can be responsible for a multitude of disorders including diabetes, several forms of cancer and epilepsy. The present article point out the scientific evidence of the effectiveness of natural alkaloids extracted from common medicinal plants including Peganum harmala on the modulation of voltage-gated calcium channels as well as their pharmacological and therapeutic outcomes.