» Articles » PMID: 35655306

Anticancer Potential of Alkaloids: a Key Emphasis to Colchicine, Vinblastine, Vincristine, Vindesine, Vinorelbine and Vincamine

Abstract

Cancer, one of the leading illnesses, accounts for about 10 million deaths worldwide. The treatment of cancer includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and drug therapy, along with others, which not only put a tremendous economic effect on patients but also develop drug resistance in patients with time. A significant number of cancer cases can be prevented/treated by implementing evidence-based preventive strategies. Plant-based drugs have evolved as promising preventive chemo options both in developing and developed nations. The secondary plant metabolites such as alkaloids have proven efficacy and acceptability for cancer treatment. Apropos, this review deals with a spectrum of promising alkaloids such as colchicine, vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine, vinorelbine, and vincamine within different domains of comprehensive information on these molecules such as their medical applications (contemporary/traditional), mechanism of antitumor action, and potential scale-up biotechnological studies on an in-vitro scale. The comprehensive information provided in the review will be a valuable resource to develop an effective, affordable, and cost effective cancer management program using these alkaloids.

Citing Articles

Inhibitory effects of carbohydrazide indole derivative on micro-blood vessel growth using ex vivo, in vivo, and in vitro assays.

Khaleel B, Ridha-Salman H, Kadhim H, Hassan O, Kubba A, Sahib H In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim. 2025; .

PMID: 40048112 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-025-01019-0.


Phytochemicals and their Nanoformulations for Overcoming Drug Resistance in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Pingping Z, Nan C, Yong T Pharm Res. 2025; .

PMID: 40032776 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-025-03836-0.


Evaluation of Bioactivity of Essential Oils: Cytotoxic/Genotoxic Effects on Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines, Antibacterial Activity, and Survival of Lactic Acid Bacteria.

Kozics K, Mesarosova M, Sramkova M, Buckova M, Puskarova A, Galova D Molecules. 2025; 30(4).

PMID: 40005205 PMC: 11858314. DOI: 10.3390/molecules30040890.


In vitro synthetic polyploidization and enhancement of anticancer compounds in Catharanthus Roseus (L.) G. Don important cultivars.

Nourozi E, Hedayati A, Madani H, Hosseini B, Hemmaty S Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):6563.

PMID: 39994440 PMC: 11850637. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-91103-y.


Effect of adaptive variable-resistance training on chemotherapy-induced sarcopenia, fatigue, and functional restriction in pediatric survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Elnaggar R, Mahmoud W, Abdrabo M, Elfakharany M Support Care Cancer. 2025; 33(3):214.

PMID: 39985582 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-025-09250-x.


References
1.
Jordan M . Mechanism of action of antitumor drugs that interact with microtubules and tubulin. Curr Med Chem Anticancer Agents. 2003; 2(1):1-17. DOI: 10.2174/1568011023354290. View

2.
Salehi B, Mishra A, Nigam M, Karazhan N, Shukla I, Kieltyka-Dadasiewicz A . Ficus plants: State of the art from a phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological perspective. Phytother Res. 2020; 35(3):1187-1217. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6884. View

3.
Grattagliano I, Bonfrate L, Ruggiero V, Scaccianoce G, Palasciano G, Portincasa P . Novel therapeutics for the treatment of familial Mediterranean fever: from colchicine to biologics. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2013; 95(1):89-97. DOI: 10.1038/clpt.2013.148. View

4.
Javarappa K, Tsallos D, Heckman C . A Multiplexed Screening Assay to Evaluate Chemotherapy-Induced Myelosuppression Using Healthy Peripheral Blood and Bone Marrow. SLAS Discov. 2018; 23(7):687-696. DOI: 10.1177/2472555218777968. View

5.
Lin Z, Kuo C, Wu D, Chuang W . Anticancer effects of clinically acceptable colchicine concentrations on human gastric cancer cell lines. Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2016; 32(2):68-73. DOI: 10.1016/j.kjms.2015.12.006. View