Prostate cancer is a leading killer disease among men all over the world. Inducing apoptosis
(programmed cell death) is a strategic chemotherapeutic approach. Caspase-3 is a key effector of
apoptosis, and its activation promotes apoptosis. It was hypothesized that erythrinaline alkaloids
activate caspase-3. The alkaloids were isolated from the flowers and pods of Erythrina lysistemon.
Their effect on human recombinant caspase-3 was studied. This study reports that three erythrinaline
alkaloids (+)-11α-hydroxyerysotrine N-oxide (1), (+)-11β-hydroxyerysotrine N-oxide (2) and (+)-11β-
methoxyerysotrine N-oxide (3) activated human recombinant caspase-3 in a dose-dependent manner.
Compound 1 and 2 increased the activity by five-fold while compound 3 increased it by ten-fold.
Erythrinaline alkaloids exhibit remarkable ability to activate caspase-3 and may be lead compounds as
potential therapeutics for the treatment of cancer as inducers of apoptosis in cancer cells.
Key words: Erythrinaline alkaloids, human recombinant caspase-3, apoptosis, prostate cancer

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