Scoulerine is an inhibitor of ß-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1(BACE1). Scoulerine a potent antimitotic compound that inhibits proliferation, arrests cell cycle, and induces apoptosis in cancer cells.

Forty-six isoquinoline alkaloids, of eleven structural types isolated in our laboratory, have been evaluated for their cytotoxicity against two cancer cell lines (Caco-2 and Hep-G2 cancer cells), as well as against normal human lung fibroblast cells. Only Scoulerine, aromoline, berbamine and parfumidine showed significant cytotoxic effects, but only Scoulerine was active against both Caco-2 and Hep-G2 cells (IC50 values 6.44 ± 0.87 and 4.57 ± 0.42, respectively). Unfortunately, except for parfumidine, the other active alkaloids were also cytotoxic to the normal human lung fibroblast cells[1]