Benzophenanthridines belong to the benzylisoquinolic alkaloids, representing one of the main groups of this class. These alkaloids include over 120 different compounds, mostly in plants from the Fumariaceae, Papaveraceae, and Rutaceae families, which confer chemical protection against pathogens and herbivores. Industrial uses of BZD include the production of environmentally friendly agrochemicals and livestock food supplements. However, although mainly considered toxic compounds, plants bearing them have been used in traditional medicine and their medical applications as antimicrobials, antiprotozoals, and cytotoxic agents have been envisioned. The biosynthetic pathways for some BZD have been established in different species, allowing for the isolation of the genes and enzymes involved. This knowledge has resulted in a better understanding of the process controlling their synthesis and an opening of the gates towards their exploitation by applying modern biotechnological approaches, such as synthetic biology. This review presents the new advances on BDZ biosynthesis and physiological roles. Industrial applications, mainly with pharmacological approaches, are also revised.

Argemone mexicana L. (Papaveraceae), accumulates benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, (BIA) derived from tyrosine. Although it was originated in the western region of the USA-Mexico border, it has spread to tropical and subtropical areas around the world. Today, it is used to treat different ailments, given to its antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antimalarial, pesticide, cytotoxic and neurological properties. These effects are related to the presence of different types of BIA’s, such as benzophenanthridines (sanguinarine, chelerythrine), protoberberines (berberine) and protopines (protopine, allocryptopine). This review covers the historical medicinal uses of A. mexicana, as well as its current applications. The chemical bases of such effects are discussed in relation to the occurrence of the different types of alkaloids. The biochemical process involved in the synthesis of these types of alkaloids is also described.

Suspension cultures of Habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) were exposed to salicylic acid or methyl jasmonate to change secondary metabolism. Both treatments led to the accumulation of capsaicinoids and their late biosynthetic intermediate, vanillin. Both elicitors had a positive effect on the activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase and coumarate O-methyltransferase, but none of them represented the main limiting step for capsaicinoid accumulation since vanillin contents were two orders of magnitude higher than those of capsaicinoids.