Vinca alkaloid From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chemical structure of the vinca alkaloid vincristine Vinca alkaloids are a set of anti-mitotic and anti-microtubule agents which were originally derived from the Periwinkle plant Catharanthus roseus.
Vinca alkaloids are used in the treatment of cancer. They are a class of cell-cycle-specific cytotoxic drugs which work by inhibiting the ability of cancer cells to divide: acting upon tubulin, they prevent it from forming into microtubules, a necessary component for cellular division.[1] Vinca alkaloids are now produced synthetically and used as drugs in cancer therapy and as immunosuppressive drugs. These compounds include vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine and vinorelbine.
[edit] References1.^ Takimoto CH, Calvo E. "Principles of Oncologic Pharmacotherapy" in Pazdur R, Wagman LD, Camphausen KA, Hoskins WJ (Eds) Cancer Management: A Multidisciplinary Approach. 11 ed. 2008.
Myrtle, also known as Lesser Periwinkle or Vinca Minor is in bloom in many gardens.
Vinca minor (Lesser Periwinkle) is a plant native to central and southern Europe, the Baltic States and also southwestern Asia, in Turkey.
http://flowers-macrophotography.blogspot.com/2010/05/myrtle-lesser-periwinkle-flower-plant.html
