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.

Keywords: Alkaloids; Anticancer; Antimitotic; Apoptosis; Catharanthus; Colchicum; Microtubule-targeting agents; Vinca.

Fig. 1

The chemical structures of the most representative natural alkaloids and their semisynthetic derivatives are used as anticancer agents

Fig. 2

Summarized scheme with anticancer mechanisms of Vinca alkaloids and colchicine. These compounds stop the mitotic cell cycle by attaching to the surface of two tubulin heterodimers next to the exchangeable GTP-binding site, causing microtubule depolymerization. Destabilization and interruption in tubulin dynamics result in programmed cell death or apoptosis