What Is Vinblastine?
Vinblastine is a compound classified as a vinca alkaloid, a type of alkaloid isolated from the plant Nichinichiwa.
Its molecular weight is 810.975 and its molecular formula is C46H58N4O9. The compound is characterized by its white to light yellow powdery color and extremely low water solubility. It is virtually insoluble in water and alcohols and soluble in organic solvents such as DMSO and ethyl acetate.
Vinblastine is used as an antineoplastic agent in the treatment of cancer because of its ability to inhibit cell proliferation by blocking microtubule polymerization during the M phase of cell division. Vinblastine, used as a drug, is generally in a sulfate structure to improve stability and solubility.
Uses of Vinblastine
Vinblastine is a type of antineoplastic agent used in the treatment of cancer. After being administered intravenously, vinblastine is taken up into the cells by taking advantage of its high liposolubility.
It then acts specifically in the M phase of the cell cycle, preventing cancer cells from dividing by inhibiting the binding of tubulin, a protein that makes up microtubules within the cell. Vinblastine is one of the leading anticancer drugs and is used against a wide range of cancer types, including leukemia, malignant lymphoma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and lung cancer.
Because vinca alkaloids are characterized by their tendency to cause neuropathy, patients should be aware of numbness in the fingers and toes and abnormal sensations in the skin when Vinblastine is administered.
Properties of Vinblastine
Vinblastine is a white to light yellow powder. It has extremely low solubility and is virtually insoluble in solvents such as water, ethanol, and methanol. On the other hand, it is soluble in organic solvents such as DMSO, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate, and is generally used in these solvents.
Vinblastine is not metabolized in vivo and is excreted directly into the urine, and its pharmacokinetics are believed to involve fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) 3. It is also a highly toxic alkaloid and should be used with caution.
Structure of Vinblastine
The molecular structure of Vinblastine is an indole alkaloid with an indole skeleton in its basic structure. Its chemical formula is C46H58N4O9 and its molecular weight is 810.97.
It has a complex structure consisting of several chiral carbon atoms and numerous oxygen and nitrogen atoms, and has several functional groups such as alkyl and carboxyl groups on its side chains. It has several functional groups, such as alkyl groups and carboxyl groups on its side chains. Due to its high liposolubility, vinblastine is taken up into cells and binds to tubulin, a dimer, thereby exerting anticancer effects and inhibiting cancer cell proliferation.
Vinblastine is extracted from plants, but many optical isomers are known to exist in natural products. Therefore, there is a need to develop methods for the synthesis and purification of purely active and advantageous optical isomers.
However, the current challenge is the low yield due to the difficulty of synthesis caused by the complex structure. There is a continuing need to develop more efficient synthetic methods for Vinblastine.
Other Information on Vinblastine
How Vinblastine Is Produced
Vinblastine is isolated from Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) along with its precursors (catharanthine and vindoline). Vinblastine is extracted from leaves, stems, and roots, and is isolated by chromatographic purification.
Due to its complex three-dimensional structure, the many steps involved in its synthesis, and low yields caused by byproducts, it is difficult to synthesize vinblastine on an industrial scale, and extraction from natural products is the main source of vinblastine.
However, because plant-extracted Vinblastine and its precursors contain optical isomers that are unfavorable for activity, enantioselective total synthesis using chiral agents (sharpless catalysts) and controlled reaction temperatures have recently received considerable attention.