Fangchinoline (2021-2026): A Multitarget Bisbenzylisoquinoline Alkaloid With Emerging Anti-Infective Potential.

Background: Fangchinoline (FC) is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid reported mainly from the traditional Chinese medicinal plant, Methods: A thorough literature search was conducted through various databases, including ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, together with publishers' websites (e.g., Elsevier, Wiley, Springer, Taylor & Francis, Sage, Thieme, and Bentham) from 2021 to August 2026. Results: Recent studies have investigated the activity of FC against several viral and microbial pathogens using different experimental models. Across these studies, the reported antiviral mechanisms included interference with viral entry and internalization, alteration of endolysosomal trafficking and autophagy, and modulation of innate immune signaling. Antimicrobial studies reported activity against Conclusion: Collectively, these findings demonstrate the potential of FC as a multitarget natural scaffold with reported antiviral, antimicrobial, and other pharmacological activities; however, the evidence remains predominantly preclinical. Further studies are required to clarify its mechanisms of action and establish its pharmacokinetic, bioavailability, and safety profiles and to determine whether the reported anti-infective activities can be translated into clinically relevant applications.