 |
|
|
| VINCA TINCTURE (tinctura Vinca rosea) from AMAZON HERBS® |
OverviewVinca has more than 400 known alkaloids! Some are used by the pharmaceutical industry for the treatment of childhood leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, testicular cancer and cancerous tumors. Taken as a daily supplement, it improves the blood supply to the brain, increases oxygen and glucose for the brain to use, helps prevent abnormal coagulation of blood, and it raises brain levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. There are two classes of active compounds in Vinca: alkaloids and tannins. The major alkaloid is known as vincamine. A closely related semi-synthetic derivative of vincamine widely used as medicine is known as ethyl-apovincaminate or vinpocetine. It has vasodilating, blood thinning, and memory-enhancing actions. It has been shown in double-blind studies to help alleviate a type of dementia known as vascular dementia, in which the arteries supplying blood to the brain develop atherosclerotic plaques. Extracts of Vinca have significant anticancer activity against numerous cell types. The greatest activity is seen against multi-drug resistant tumor types which suggest that there are compounds in Vinca rosea that are synergistic or additive with anti-neoplastic elements by inhibiting resistance to them. Constituents Over 70 different indole alkaloids; including vincaleukoblastine (vinblastine), 22 - oxovincaleukoblastine (vineristine), reserpine, vincamine, alstonine, leurocristine, ajmalicine, vinine, vinomine, vinoxine, vintsine, leurosine. Pharmacology The hypoglycemic activity of alkaloids isolated from Catharanthus roseus have been studied pharmacologically and a remedy derived from the plant has been marketed under the proprietary name Vinculin® as a treatment for diabetes. Vinblastine ( Molecular Formula C46H58N4O9, CAS Registry number 865-21/-4, scientific name vincaleukoblastine). Vincristine (Molecular Formula C46H56N4O10, CAS Registry Number 57-22-7, scientific name 22-oxovincaleukoblastine). Both of these vinca alkaloids are dimeric compounds of indole and dihydroindole nuclei joined together with other ringed compounds. Vincristine and vinblastine seem to be similar in that both are made up of an upper indole moiety and a lower vindoline moiety. The difference is at the five membered ring of the lower ring systems namely vindoline of the two vinca alkaloids. These alkaloids are cytotoxic and target sites in cell division thus preventing mitosis to proceed. Although for a normal person, this action of the vinca alkaloids can be toxic but they are helpful agents in stopping the division of cancerous cells. Vinca alkaloids are used in the prevention and treatment of cancer. The two common cancer treatment drugs (chemotherapy) from Lilly Velban® and Oncovin® are produced from vinblastin and vincristine respectively. The side effects when using these drugs can be serious. Applications Prevention of cancer, cancer treatment, anti-diabetic, stomachic, reduces high blood pressure, externally against nose bleeding, sore throat and mouth ulcers. Precautions Side effects from oral use are mild, only experienced by a small number of people, and disappear after the drug has been taken for a while. Should not be taken by women who are or may become pregnant or are breast feeding There were no well-known drug interactions with Vinca Dosage Tincture: 1 – 2 ml./ 3 times daily Infusion: 2 – 3 cups daily References Chattopadhyay RR (1999) “A comparative evaluation of some blood sugar lowering agents of plant origin” J Ethnopharmacol 67:367–72 Chattopadhyay RR, Sarkar SK, Ganguli S, et al. (1991) “Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect of leaves of Vinca rosea Linn” Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 35, 145-51. Chattopadhyay RR, Sarkar SK, Ganguli S, et al. (1992) “Antiinflammatory and acute toxicity studies with leaves of Vinca rosea Linn in experimental animals” Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 36:291–2. Elgorashi EE, Taylor JLS, Maes A, et al. (2003) “Screening of medicinal plants used in South African traditional medicine for genotoxic effects” Toxicol Lett 143:195-207 El-Sayed A, Cordell GA (1981) “Catharanthus alkaloids. XXXIV. Catharanthamine, a new antitumor bisindole alkaloid from Catharanthus roseus” J Nat Prod 44(3):289-93 El-Sayed A, Handy GA, Cordell GA (1983) “Catharanthus alkaloids, XXXVIII. Confirming structural evidence and antineoplastic activity of the bisindole alkaloids leurosine-N'b-oxide (pleurosine), roseadine and vindolicine from Catharanthus roseus” J Nat Prod 46(4):517-27 Ghosh RK, Gupta I (1980) “Effect of Vinca rosea and Ficus racemososus on hyperglycemia in rats” Indian J Animal Health 19:145–8 Haque N, Chowdhury SA, Nutan MT, et al. (2000) “Evaluation of antitumor activity of some medicinal plants of Bangladesh by potato disk bioassay” Fitoterapia 71(5):547-52. Singh SN, Vats P, Suri S, et al. (2001) “Effect of an antidiabetic extract of Catharanthus roseus on enzymic activities in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats” J Ethnopharmacol 76:269-77 Ueda JY, Tezuka Y, Banskota AH, et al. (2002) “Antiproliferative activity of Vietnamese medicinal plants” Biol Pharm Bull 25(6):753-60 Wang S, Zheng Z, Weng Y, et al. (2004) “Angiogenesis and anti-angiogenesis activity of Chinese medicinal herbal extracts” Life Sci 74(20):2467-78 Zheng W, Wang SY (2001) “Antioxidant Activity and Phenolic Compounds in Selected Herbs” J Agric Food Chem 49:5165-70 The above presentation is for informational and educational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over - the - counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and / or pharmacist for any health problem and before using dietary supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. A flavonol O-methyltransferase from Catharanthus roseus performing two sequential methylations Sabrina Cacacea*, ¹, Gudrun Schrödera*, ¹, Elke Wehingera*, ¹, Dieter Strack**, Jürgen Schmidt** and Joachim Schröder**, ¹. * Institut für Biologie II, Universität Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 1, D-79104, Freiburg, Germany. ** Institut für Pflanzenbiochemie, Weinberg 3, D-06120, Halle (Saale), Germany |
|
For the right freight rate, please visit our Webstore page! |
|
TROPILAB® INC copyright disclaimer |