Swainsonine is known to be produced by fungal symbionts of plants (endophytes), plant pathogens, and insect pathogens. It is an indolizidine alkaloid, a mannofuranose analog, that specifically inhibits a-mannosidase II in the Golgi apparatus, disrupting the endomembrane system of the cell. Swainsonine is under consideration as a component of chemotherapeutic treatments for some cancers. Swainsonine's activity against tumors is attributed to its stimulation of macrophages. In mice, swainsonine reduces the toxicity of doxorubicin, suggesting that swainsonine might enable use of higher doses of doxorubicin. Swainsonine may promote restoration of bone marrow damaged by some types of cancer treatments.

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