Free amine benzophenanthridine alkaloid compositions

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a benzophenanthridine alkaloid consisting of an effective amount of a free amine form or derivative thereof in a free amine form and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier of an aqueous medium, an aqueous-organic medium or an organic material;

• wherein
• the free amine form of the benzophenanthridine alkaloid or derivative is established by maintaining the pH of the carrier at least at 6.8, by permanent synthetic alteration of the benzophenanthridine alkaloid structure, or by chemical equilibration of the benzophenanthridine alkaloid;
• and
• the derivative is selected from the group consisting of a synthetically modified naturally occurring benzophenanthridine alkaloid, a synthetically formed benzophenanthridine alkaloid, a benzophenanthridine alkaloid substituted at the nitrogen by a group which renders the benzophenanthridine alkaloid unable to adopt an iminium form, a benzophenanthridine alkaloid substituted at the carbon alpha to the nitrogen by a group which renders the benzophenanthridine alkaloid unable to adopt an iminium form, a benzophenanthridine alkaloid substituted by hydrophilic or polar groups that increase the water solubility of the benzophenanthridine alkaloid, and any combination thereof.