Mitotic Block of Human Blood Cells by Vinca herbacea, Catharanthus roseus and Colchicine Alkaloids

Abstract

<em>Catharanthus roseus</em> (L.) G.Don is a plant which produces anticancer and anti-mitotic indole alkaloids. Colchicine is an anti-mitotic drug. Anti-mitotic effects of <em>Vinca herbacea </em>Waldst. & Kit. indole alkaloids is unknown. The study were evaluated the antimitotic effect of alkaloids<em> of V. herbacea, Catharanthus roseus </em>andcolchicineon mitosis and microtubule arrangement of human blood cells. In this research, alkaloids were extracted from <em>V. herbacea </em>(herba)and <em>C. roseus </em>(rose). <em>In vitro</em> anti-mitotic and microtubule shortening effects of different concentration of these alkaloids and colchicine were studied on peripheral blood cells. Three alkaloids include herba alkaloid (<em>V. herbacea</em> alkaloid) and rose alkaloid (<em>C. roseus</em> alkaloid) and colchicine, especially herba alkaloid with increasing concentrations (0, 5, 10 and 20 µg.ml^-1) that induced mitotic block at the metaphase to anaphase transition. Mitotically blocked cells were exhibited aberrant spindles by microtubule dynamics suppression. All three alkaloids strongly suppresses the rate and extent of microtubule shortening <em>in vitro</em>. Our results showed <em>V. herbacea </em>are a novel source of anti-mitotic and anticancer compounds, probably better of <em>C. roseus</em>.