Rediscovering catharanthus roseus: Chemistry and biological activity

• Tipo: Capítulo ou Parte de Livro
• Data: 2012

Autores

Pereira, DM (Autor) Outra; Valentao, P (Autor) FFUP; Ferreres, F (Autor) Outra; Sottomayor, M (Autor) FCUP; Andrade, PB (Autor) FFUP

Livro

Título: Green Chemistry

Páginas: 261-280

ISBN: 9781613248775

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge

Scopus - 0 Citações

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-009-3H7

Abstract (EN): Natural products remain today an important source of bioactive molecules to be usedin human therapeutics. This interest arises mainly from the chemical diversity found inNature and the ability of several organisms to synthesize a number of molecules whosecomplexity hinders their total or semi synthesis.Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don (formerly Vinca rosea L.) is one of the moststudied medicinal plants due to the accumulation in the leaves of the bisindolemonoterpenic alkaloids vinblastine and vincristine, which were the first naturalanticancer products to be clinically used. Together with a number of semisyntheticderivatives, these compounds are universally known as the Vinca alkaloids, which arestill among the most valuable agents used in the treatment of cancer.In the past few years, a number of studies focusing other biological properties of thisspecies have emerged. In particular, the antioxidant activity and acetylcholinesteraseinhibition of some of its primary and secondary metabolites have showed that, besidesanticancer alkaloids, there might be an interest in exploiting this species for othermedicinal activities and from a health-promoting point of view. In this chapter, an update in C. roseus chemistry and bioactivity is presented. Newmetabolites and new pharmacological properties discovered in the last years using greenchemistry approaches are reviewed, and the potential of further exploitation of C. roseusis discussed.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 20