(-)-Anonaine can be extracted from several species of Magnoliaceae and Annelidae and has antimalarial, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anticancer, antidepressant and vasodilatory activities. (-)-Anonaine induces apoptosis in human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells, induces DNA damage and inhibits the growth and migration of human lung cancer h1299 cells through Bax and caspase-dependent pathways.