Role of vinca alkaloids and their derivatives in cancer therapy

Vinca alkaloids and its derivatives like Vincristine, Vinblastine etc. isolated from Catharanthus roseus plants are widely used in the treatment of various types of cancers. Mode of action of Vinca alkaloids (vinblastine, vincristine, vinorelbine) is microtubule-stabilizing agents (MTAs) i.e., arrest the cell cycle via disrupting microtubule dynamics. Vincristine major side effect is neurotoxicity. Hoverer, Vincristine induce neuropathy in mice or rat, used as animal model to study effect of drugs or plants by various authors also reported in review literature. Vinca alkaloids and its derivatives were widely used drugs in combination regimens with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, procarbazine, Methotrexate and dacarbazine etc. in various types of cancer. In this review, we also discussed major structure modifications position of chemically synthesized vincristine and vinblastine derivatives required for potential anticancer activities. Anticancer mechanism and some major patents on vinca alkaloids derivatives also reported in this review article. The study of Vinca alkaloids and its derivatives a class of an antimitotic compounds, found essential role in anticancer therapies.