Description
Catharanthine is an alkaloid found in Catharanthus that is a chemical precursor in the synthesis of vinca alkaloids such as vinblastine and vincristine. Catharanthine displays weak anti-mitotic activity, binding tubulin poorly. Catharanthine exhibits anti-parasitic, vasodilatory, and antihypertensive activities. This compound shows antimalarial benefit against species of Plasmodium. In vivo, catharanthine inhibits voltage-gated Ca2+ channel currents, decreasing blood pressure and heart rate.
References
Munigunti R, Becker K, Brun R, et al. Determination of antiplasmodial activity and binding affinity of selected natural products towards PfTrxR and PfGR. Nat Prod Commun. 2013 Aug;8(8):1135-6. PMID: 24079187.
Jadhav A, Liang W, Papageorgiou PC, et al. Catharanthine dilates small mesenteric arteries and decreases heart rate and cardiac contractility by inhibition of voltage-operated calcium channels on vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2013 Jun;345(3):383-92. PMID: 23532933.
Sertel S, Fu Y, Zu Y, et al. Molecular docking and pharmacogenomics of vinca alkaloids and their monomeric precursors, vindoline and catharanthine. Biochem Pharmacol. 2011 Mar 15;81(6):723-35. PMID: 21219884.
