Asima Chatterjee's work in the field of science opened the doors for millions of women to excel in the field and her research on
vinca alkaloids which is now widely used in chemotherapy and helps to slow down the growth rate of cancer cells.
Vincristine is a
vinca alkaloid, which arrests the cell at the metaphase by inhibiting microtubules.
In 1976, Potier's team discovered that the Tubulin test proved a semi-synthesis of one
vinca alkaloid compound to be active, showing promise as an anticancer drug.
The plant provides the starting compounds for the family of drugs known as
vinca alkaloids which are widely used in cancer treatment.
Taxol and anti-cancer agents from ornamental shrubs (called
vinca alkaloids) affect the cancer cells internal skeleton, making cell division unsuccessful, while marine sponge and fungus compounds attack cancer via other mechanisms.
ATMs belong to a class of anti-cancer drug known as anti-mitotics, including the current taxanes and
vinca alkaloids.
Several drugs currently used in chemotherapy were isolated from plant species.The best known are the
Vinca alkaloids, vinblastine and vincristine, isolated from Catharanthus roseus, etoposide and teniposide, which are semi-synthetic derivatives of the natural product epipodophyllotoxin, Paclitaxel isolated from the bark of Taxus brevifolia, the semi-synthetic derivatives of camptothecin, irinotecan and topotecan, isolated from Cam ptotheca acuminata, among several others (Cragg et al.
Cancer patients treated with taxanes,
vinca alkaloids, or platinum compounds can develop a condition known as chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy, or CIPN for short, as a by-product of their treatment.
Strong evidence and guidelines developed by a consensus panel of experts recommend a proactive approach to preventing constipation in patients at highest risk, particularly those receiving medications such as
vinca alkaloids, which slow colonic transit times, or opioids.