List of anti-cancer crude drugs
- Vincristine
- Paclitaxel
- Camptothecin
- Etoposide
Vincristine
Vincristine is used as a chemotherapy medication to treat various types of cancer like leukemia, lymphoma, neuroblastoma, and Wilms tumor.Natural Source:
Madagascar periwinkle plant (Catharanthus roseus).
Chemical Nature:
Alkaloid Vincristine is a vinca alkaloid, a class of compounds inhibiting cell division by disrupting microtubule formation.
Paclitaxel
Paclitaxel is used as a chemotherapy antimicrotubule medication. It works by stopping the growth and spread of cancer cells by preventing cancer cell division.Natural Source:
The bark of the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia).
Chemical Nature:
Diterpenoid - Paclitaxel is a diterpenoid compound that stabilizes microtubules and prevents them from disassembling, thus inhibiting cell division.
Camptothecin
Camptothecin is a natural chemotherapy drug derived from the Chinese tree Camptotheca acuminate used to treat various cancers.Natural Source:
The bark of the Chinese tree Camptotheca acuminata.
Chemical Nature:
Quinoline Alkaloid - Camptothecin is a quinoline alkaloid that inhibits the DNA enzyme topoisomerase I, leading to DNA damage and cell death.
Etoposide
Etoposide is a chemotherapy drug widely used in the treatment of several types of cancer, including testicular, prostate, bladder, stomach, and lung cancers. It inhibits cancer cells' DNA synthesis, slowing their growth and spread.Natural Source:
American mayapple plant (Podophyllum peltatum).
Chemical Nature:
Lignan-etoposide is a semi-synthetic derivative of podophyllotoxin, a lignan that interferes with DNA synthesis by inhibiting topoisomerase II.
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