My early google searches make it appear that Vinca Rosea (a plant with a pink flower), is the (only) one that's used in chemotherapy. But further research showed that Vinca minor (pictured here to the left), has been used as well. You can read about that in this PDF.
PLEASE NOTE it's not clear to me why scientists switched from using the purple periwinkle plant, to the pink one. Again, you can read about the use of the PURPLE (vinca minor) plant in previous anti-cancer therapies, in this PDF. See this part pasted below:
From AI results in my Google search:
How Vinca Alkaloids Work:
- Vinca alkaloids disrupt the formation of microtubules within cells.
- Microtubules play a crucial role in cell division (mitosis).
- By interfering with microtubule formation, vinca alkaloids effectively halt cell division and can induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in rapidly dividing cancer cells.
Further down the page, I pasted part of a paper that says:
Vinorelbine is a semi-synthetic indole alkaloid derived from plant extracts from Vinca minor L.
Cytotoxic effect of vinorelbine on cancer cells
The cytotoxicity of vinorelbine was investigate on non-small cell lung cancer (H1975), liver cancer (HepG2) and colorectal cancer (HCT116) by MTT assay. The results showed that vinorelbine significantly inhibited cell proliferation activity in a dose responsive manner (Fig. 1B). The half of inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of vinorelbine in H1975, HepG2, and HCT116 cells were 0.008 ± 0.001, 0.11 ± 0.01, and 0.0149 ± 0.002 μM, respectively (Fig. 1C). The nucleus staining with the DNA-binding
Discussion
There are rarely effective drugs in the curative treatment of patients with cancer metastasis. Clinically, most patients with metastatic disease typically receive systemic agents, which prolong survival and alleviate symptoms [1,2]. Moreover, metastasis is an uninvited aspect of traditional drugs development, such as paclitaxel and cisplatin [21]. Vinorelbine, a traditional chemotherapeutic agent, was approved labeling for use alone or in combination with cisplatin for the first-line treatment
How did I hear about this?
I typed this into google:
plants that eat cancer
And the first thing that popped up was some blurb with the word "vinca." The word caught my eye right away, because I have that plant in my back yard! (vinca minor).
This is what popped up:
Vinca minor, also known as lesser periwinkle, is a plant species that is not directly used for cancer treatment, but is known for its alkaloid compounds, which have been used in cancer therapy. Specifically, alkaloids derived from the periwinkle plant, Catharanthus roseus (not Vinca minor), are used in chemotherapy. Vincristine, an alkaloid extracted from this plant, is a key component in the treatment of various cancers, including acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), breast cancer, and others.
PLEASE NOTE it's not clear to me why scientists switched from using the purple periwinkle plant, to the pink one. Again, you can read about the use of the PURPLE (vinca minor) plant in previous anti-cancer therapies, in this PDF. See this part pasted below:
Introduction
In recent decades, new alternative therapies using drugs containing active principles
of natural origin, have been a topical field of pharmaceutical research. One of the
objectives of these lines of research was to obtain bioactive compounds from natural
resources. Plants are the raw material from which various active principles can be
extracted, which can be used in the treatment of various diseases. Indole chemistry is
a fascinating and complex field. The foul-smelling indole molecule is the cornerstone
of a wide variety of natural and chemical products. Moreover, some indole derivatives
are vital pharmaceuticals or important intermediates. Indole ring compounds belong
to the class of aromatic heterocyclic compounds with a heteroatom and the indole
ring is the most widespread heterocycle. Other indole ring alkaloids of particular
importance in medicine are Vinca alkaloids [Zimerman H.J., 1999]. Vinca alkaloids
inhibit cell division by blocking mitosis, also inhibiting purine and RNA synthesis and
ultimately causing the death of rapidly dividing cells. Vincristine and Vinblastine, two
important indole alkaloids were isolated from Vinca Rosea L., and their extracts have
antitumor activity. Vinorelbine is a semi-synthetic indole alkaloid derived from plant
extracts from Vinca minor L. Vincristina was approved for use in cancer
chemotherapy in 1963, Vinblastine in 1965, and Vinorelbine in 1994 [Bohannon R.A.,
1963]. They have become major components of many combined anticancer regimens,
used especially in the treatment of acute leukemia, Hodgkin's disease and other
lymphomas, various sarcomas, Wilms tumor, neuroblastoma and breast and lung
cancers. Vinca alkaloids are given intravenously, usually at intervals of one or two
weeks in cycles with other agents.
Medical uses
[edit]Vinorelbine is approved for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer.[5][6] It is used off-label for other cancers such as metastatic breast cancer and for aggressive fibromatosis (desmoid tumor).[7][8] It is also active in rhabdomyosarcoma.[9]
I've done research on periwinkle (vinca minor), and have actually chewed a few leaves, because I read that the vinpocetine (from periwinkle) is used to help you think more clearly. I saw the Vinca Minor (Periwinkle) flower on a bottle of Ginkgo Biloba (sold at Costco)!
It shouldn't surprise me that this plant has strong medicinal effects, because I have a theory that the hardiest (and most invasive) plants make the most powerful medicine. This plant grows like crazy. I once dug up a ton of it and gave it away to a guy from Craigslist who wanted to use it on his hillside for erosion control.
I'd heard about it's use for mental clarity, but I'd never heard anything about it's anti-cancer effects.
Something kinda weird happened during my search. I copied what was came up in the A.I. search, and was just about to paste it into a blog post, when all of a sudden my computer crashed. I got the Blue Screen of Death. True, I have been getting those a lot lately. Often times, more than once a day. But the timing just seemed weird... it popped up literally just as I was about to paste the info.
Luckily, the exact words I searched for were saved in my google history, but guess what. When I clicked on the page in my history, where I did the search, Vinca Minor was nowhere to be found in the search results. It disappeared. I wonder why that would be.
This blurb did pop up, though:
I refreshed the page, and luckily the part about the vinca species did re-appear. For some reason I thought the Vinca alcoloids appeared in the #1 spot, but I could have been wrong. Either way, it was at the top? Oh well. Anyway, here's what came up:
While plants cannot "eat" cancer in the literal sense, many contain compounds with anti-cancer properties that have shown promise in research and some are even used in cancer treatment.
Here's a breakdown of how plants play a role in fighting cancer:
1. Plants as Sources of Anti-Cancer Drugs:
- Taxol (Paclitaxel): Derived from the Pacific yew tree, it is a widely used chemotherapy drug that disrupts microtubule function, inhibiting cancer cell growth and division.
- Vinca Alkaloids (e.g., Vincristine and Vinblastine): Found in the Madagascar periwinkle, these alkaloids are used to treat various cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma, by interfering with cell division.
- Camptothecin: Isolated from the Chinese happy tree, this compound is the basis for drugs like irinotecan and topotecan, which inhibit topoisomerase I, an enzyme essential for DNA replication and repair.
2. Phytochemicals with Anti-Cancer Potential:
- Curcumin: Found in turmeric, this compound has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties, and has shown potential in inhibiting cancer cell growth and inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death).
- Resveratrol: Present in grapes and red wine, this polyphenol has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has demonstrated anti-cancer effects in various studies.
- Sulforaphane: Found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and kale, this compound has been shown to induce detoxification enzymes and inhibit cancer cell growth.
3. Mechanisms of Action:
These plant-derived compounds can exert their anti-cancer effects through various mechanisms, including:
- Inducing Apoptosis: Triggering programmed cell death in cancer cells.
- Inhibiting Cell Proliferation: Slowing down or stopping the growth of cancer cells.
- Anti-Angiogenesis: Preventing the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow and spread.
- Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects: Reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, which are implicated in cancer development and progression.
Important Note:
It's crucial to understand that while research on these compounds is promising, further studies, including clinical trials, are often needed to confirm their effectiveness and safety for widespread use in cancer prevention or treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet or treatment plan, especially if you have cancer or are at risk.
The term "periwinkle cancer" most likely refers to the use of substances derived from the periwinkle plant, specifically the Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), in cancer treatment.
Here's a breakdown:
1. Vinca Alkaloids and Cancer:
- The Madagascar periwinkle is the source of several powerful anticancer drugs known as vinca alkaloids, including vinblastine and vincristine.
- These alkaloids are used in chemotherapy to treat a wide variety of cancers, particularly hematological malignancies (cancers of the blood and bone marrow).
2. How Vinca Alkaloids Work:
- Vinca alkaloids disrupt the formation of microtubules within cells.
- Microtubules play a crucial role in cell division (mitosis).
- By interfering with microtubule formation, vinca alkaloids effectively halt cell division and can induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in rapidly dividing cancer cells.
3. Common Vinca Alkaloid Drugs:
- Vinblastine: Used to treat Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-small cell lung cancer, bladder cancer, brain cancer, melanoma, and testicular cancer.
- Vincristine: Used to treat acute leukemia, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, Wilms' tumor, and other cancers.
Vinorelbine is a semi-synthetic indole alkaloid derived from plant extracts from Vinca minor L. Vincristina was approved for use in cancer chemotherapy in 1963, Vinblastine in 1965, and Vinorelbine in 1994 [Bohannon R.A., 1963]. They have become major components of many combined anticancer regimens, used especially in the treatment of acute leukemia, Hodgkin's disease and other lymphomas, various sarcomas, Wilms tumor, neuroblastoma and breast and lung cancers. Vinca alkaloids are given intravenously, usually at intervals of one or two weeks in cycles with other agents. Vinca alkaloids are available in generic forms and under the trade names Oncovin (vincristine), Velban (vinblastine), Navelbine (vinorelbine) and Oxybral (vincamine) [DeLeve L.D., 2013].
Vinca minor, also known as lesser periwinkle, is a plant species that is not directly used for cancer treatment, but is known for its alkaloid compounds, which have been used in cancer therapy. Specifically, alkaloids derived from the periwinkle plant, Catharanthus roseus (not Vinca minor), are used in chemotherapy. Vincristine, an alkaloid extracted from this plant, is a key component in the treatment of various cancers, including acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), breast cancer, and others.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
- .This plant species is known for its medicinal properties, including the production of vincamine, which is used as a brain stimulant. While not directly used in cancer treatment, its close relative, Catharanthus roseus (pink periwinkle), is the source of important cancer-fighting drugs.
- .Another alkaloid derived from Catharanthus roseus, vinblastine, is also used in cancer treatment, particularly for Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, as well as other cancers.
- .Vinca alkaloids, like vincristine and vinblastine, work by inhibiting the growth of cancer cells by preventing the formation of microtubules, which are essential for cell division.
- .Besides vincristine and vinblastine, other vinca alkaloids, such as vindesine and vinorelbine, are also used in cancer treatment. Vinorelbine is particularly used for non-small cell lung cancer.
Cytotoxicity of Vinca minor
M Khanavi, S Pourmoslemi, B Farahanikia… - Pharmaceutical …, 2010 - Taylor & Francis
… Don (Apocynaceae), are used widely in the treatment of both childhood and adult cancers.
Despite the effectiveness of these agents, drug resistance is a major clinical problem (Citation…
Despite the effectiveness of these agents, drug resistance is a major clinical problem (Citation…
The discovery of the vinca alkaloids—chemotherapeutic agents against cancer
RL Noble - Biochemistry and cell biology, 1990 - cdnsciencepub.com
… drugs and their application to cancer is taking place in … of cancer and in stimulating interest
in the search for drugs which will be successful in the permanent, effective treatment of cancer…
in the search for drugs which will be successful in the permanent, effective treatment of cancer…
Vinca alkaloids
… stay among the original cancer therapies. Different researches and studies for new vinca
alkaloid … [1] The oldest group of the plant alkaloids groups that used to treat cancer are the vinca …
alkaloid … [1] The oldest group of the plant alkaloids groups that used to treat cancer are the vinca …
[HTML] The Phytochemical Analysis of Vinca L. Species Leaf Extracts Is Correlated with the Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Antitumor Effects
… The aim of this study was to compare the leaf extracts of Vinca minor, V. major, V. herbacea,
… higher doses of extracts are needed for cancer cell inhibition, along with longer exposure. V. …
… higher doses of extracts are needed for cancer cell inhibition, along with longer exposure. V. …
[PDF] Vinca alkaloid-the second most used alkaloid for cancer treatment-A review
… The potent antitumor effect of VNR with minor neurotoxicity was explained by VNR having
stronger activity on mitotic microtubules than axonal microtubules. It was supposed that less …
stronger activity on mitotic microtubules than axonal microtubules. It was supposed that less …
Anti-cancer alkaloids of Vinca rosea
R Noble - Pharmacol. Orient. Plants, 2016 - books.google.com
… With the increasing data indicating that highly specific types of activity and toxicity may be
associated with compounds with only minor chemical differences, as has been emphasized in …
associated with compounds with only minor chemical differences, as has been emphasized in …
Actual aspects of anatomical research of medicinal plant material of Vinca minor L
YS Cheryatova - IOP Conference Series: Earth and …, 2021 - iopscience.iop.org
… minor alkaloids are among the most widely used … minor alkaloids are very lipophilic, and
reach very high intracellular concentrations, they disrupt the abnormal growth of cancer cells, …
reach very high intracellular concentrations, they disrupt the abnormal growth of cancer cells, …
Vinca minor L. leaf anatomical structure
KS Ochirova, EA Ovanova… - … Sciences and Research, 2018 - search.proquest.com
… alkaloids has been noted in treatment of certain forms of cancer. … Vinca minor L is a semishrub
with creeping and upright stems. As … The homeland of the plant is Europe and Asia Minor. …
with creeping and upright stems. As … The homeland of the plant is Europe and Asia Minor. …
Bio-evaluation of untapped alkaloids from vinca minor enriched by methyl-jasmonate-induced stress: an integrated approach
FF El-Senduny, AA Elgazar, HA Alwasify… - Planta …, 2023 - thieme-connect.com
… -7) cancer cell lines was evaluated after 48 hours, and IC50 was calculated using a sigmoidal
curve based on MTT assay. As shown in [Fig. 2], the data showed that Vinca minor … cancer …
curve based on MTT assay. As shown in [Fig. 2], the data showed that Vinca minor … cancer …
[PDF] Spectrophotometric Studies of Indolic Compounds from Vinca Minor L.
AM Dumitrescu, G STANCIU… - … Journal of Natural …, 2021 - pdfs.semanticscholar.org
… plant extracts from Vinca minor L. Vincristina was approved for use in cancer chemotherapy
in … lymphomas, various sarcomas, Wilms tumor, neuroblastoma and breast and lung cancers. …
in … lymphomas, various sarcomas, Wilms tumor, neuroblastoma and breast and lung cancers. …
Vinpocetine is a synthetic compound derived from vincamine, an alkaloid found in the periwinkle plant. It's marketed as a dietary supplement in the United States, often promoted for cognitive enhancement and memory improvement, though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn't evaluated its effectiveness for these uses.
Some info from a google search on Vinpocetine (from the Periwinkle plant):
Here's a summary of key aspects of vinpocetine:
1. Purported Uses and Benefits:
- Cognitive Enhancement: Vinpocetine is often claimed to improve cognitive function, including memory and focus.
- Cerebrovascular Disorders: In some European and Asian countries, it's prescribed for cerebrovascular disorders, including stroke and dementia.
- Improved Blood Flow: Vinpocetine may enhance cerebral blood flow by increasing the availability of glucose and oxygen to the brain.
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