Biological source, Chemical constituents and Therapeutic efficacy of the following category of crude drugs: Vinca and Podophyllum

1. ANTI-TUMOUR
P r e p a r e d B y : M s . D i v y a K a n o j i y a
A s s i s t a nt P r o f e s s o r i n P h a r m a c o g n o sy
D e p a r t m e nt o f P h a r m a c y, S u m a n d e e p
V i d y a p e e t h D e e m e d to b e U n i ve r s i t y, P i p a r i a ,
Va d o d a r a . 1

2. CONTENT:
 BI OLO G I C AL S OU RC E , C H EMI C A L
CON ST I TU ENT S AN D T H ER AP EU T I C EFF I C AC Y
OF T HE FO L LOW I NG C AT EGO RY O F CR U D E
DRUGS:
 VINCA
 PODOPH Y L LU M
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3.  Anti-tumour drugs:
 Anti-tumour drugs are the agents used for treatment of Cancer.
 Cancer is characterized by abnormal cell growth (tumor), which grows
into surrounding tissues and spread, to new sites.
 Various types of cancer are reported such as Hodgkin’s disease,
Leukemia’s cancer of lung, breast, stomach, bladder, colon, prostate,
testilces, uterus, skin etc.
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4. VINCA
 Synonym: Vinca rosea, Catharanthus,
Madagascar periwinkle, Barmasi.
 Biological source: Vinca is the dried entire
plant of Catharanthus roseus Linn.,
belonging to family Apocynaceae.
 Geographical source: The plant is a native of
Madagascar and is found in many tropical
and subtropical countries especially in India,
Australia, South Africa and North and South
America. The plant is cultivated as garden
plant in Europe and India. 4

5.  Morphology of leaf:
 Size: Length 3-5 cm and Width 1-2 cm
 Shape: Ovate to oblong
 Colour: Green
 Odour: Characteristics
 Taste: Bitter
 Appearance: Ovate or oblong, glossy
appearance
 Apex: Acute
 Margin: Entire
Figure: Vinca leaf 5

6. Chemical constituents:
 Alkaloids are present in entire shrub but leaves and roots contain more
alkaloids.
 About 90 alkaloids have been isolated from Vinca from which some like
Ajmalicine, Serpentine and Tetrahydro-alstonine are known and are
present in other species of Apocynaceae.
 The important alkaloids in Catharanthus are the dimer indole-indoline
alkaloids Vinblastine and Vincristine and they possess definite anticancer
activity. Vindoline and Catharanthine are indole monomeric alkaloids.
 It also contains monoterpenes, sesquiterpene, indole and indoline
glycoside. 6

7. 7

8.  Uses:
 Vinblastin is an antitumour alkaloid used in the treatment of Hodgkin’s disease.
Vincristine is a cytotoxic compound and used to treat leukaemia in children.
 Vinca is used in herbal practice for its astringent and tonic properties in menorrhagia
and in haemorrhages generally.
 In cases of scurvy and for relaxed sore throat and inflamed tonsils, it may also be
used as a gargle. For bleeding piles, it may be applied externally, as well as taken
internally. It is also used in the treatment of diabetes.
 The flowers of the Periwinkle are gently purgative, but lose their effect on drying.
 If gathered in the spring and made into a syrup, they impart all their virtues, and this,
it is stated, is excellent as a gentle laxative for children and also for overcoming
chronic constipation in grown persons.
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9. Marketed Products:
 It is one of the ingredients of the preparation known as Cytocristin (Cipla).
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10. PODOPHYLLUM
Synonyms: Podophyllum, American Mandrake,
May-apple root.
Biological source: Podophyllum consists of the
dried rhizomes and roots of Podophyllum
peltatum Linn., belonging to family
Berberidaceae.
Geographical source: Podophyllum peltatum
is indigenous to Eastern part of the United
States and Canada. It grows wildly in Virginia,
North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana, and
Tennessee. Figure: Podophyllum peltatum
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11.  Morphology:
 Size: 5–20 cm length and 5–6
mm thickness
 Shape: Subcylindrical pieces
 Colour: Dark reddish brown
 Odour: Slight but
characteristic odour
 Taste: Bitter and acrid
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12.  Chemical Constituents:
 Podophyllum rhizomes contain 2–8% resinous material termed as
podophyllin.
 The major constituents of podophyllum resin are the lignan derivatives
which are characterized as podophyllotoxin, α- and β-peltatin.
 The lignans are found in the form of glycosides and also as their free
aglycones.
 It also contains desmethyl podophyllotoxin, desoxypodophyllotoxin,
podophyllotoxone, a flavonoid quercetin and starch.
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14.  Uses:
 Podophyllum resin or podophyllin shows cytotoxic activity.
 It is used for the treatment of venereal and other warts.
 Podophyllotoxin is semi-synthetically converted to a potent
anticancer agent etoposide which is mainly used for the treatment
of lung and testicular cancer.
 Podophyllum resin is a strong gastrointestinal irritant.
 It acts as a drastic purgative in moderate doses but it has been
mostly replaced by other purgative drugs.
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15. Marketed products:
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16. T H A N K Y O U !
IT ALL BEGINS AND ENDS IN YOUR MIND.
WHAT YOU GIVE POWER TO,
HAS POWER OVER YOU,
IF YOU ALLOW IT!
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