This review delves into the emerging field of indole alkaloids as potential analgesics. Indole alkaloids, abundant in various plant species, exhibit a diverse array of biological activities, including analgesic properties. It synthesises existing knowledge on the mechanisms, efficacy, and therapeutic potential of indole alkaloids in pain management. It includes the derivatisation of indole alkaloids and their analgesic activities. It then delves into the structural diversity of opioidergic indole alkaloids, highlighting their common structural motifs and variations across different plant species. The future directions and opportunities for research in this field are outlined, emphasising the importance of continued exploration of plant-derived opioidergic indole alkaloids as a potential source of novel therapeutics for various medical conditions. Overall, this comprehensive review provides valuable insights into the chemical, pharmacological, and biomedical aspects of opioidergic indole alkaloids from plants, highlighting their potential as promising candidates for drug discovery and development.
Srivastava et al. (Thu,) studied this question.