Anticancer activity of reserpine: A comprehensive review of mechanisms, chemistry and botanical sources

Abstract

Reserpine (RSP), an alkaloid derived from Rauvolfia species. It is a well-established antipsychotic and antihypertensive drug which has demonstrated promising anticancer properties across various studies. This study aims to provide a short, comprehensive overview of RSP’s anticancer properties. A literature review was conducted, searching database, such as PubMed, Springer Link, Scopus up to February 15, 2025. The review included studies that reported RSP’s activity on various in vitro cancer cell lines and in vivo models, excluding those with data duplication or lacking full text. RSP demonstrated potent anticancer activity across multiple cancer types, such as lung, breast, prostate, and skin cancers, through mechanisms like increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, apoptosis induction, and inhibition of DNA synthesis. These findings suggest RSP’s potential as an anticancer agent, though further research is needed to fully understand its therapeutic capabilities.