Catharanthus roseus: Current Research and Future Prospects [Hardcover]

This book studies the production of indole alkaloids in the important medicinal plant Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don, commonly known as periwinkle. The anticancer alkaloids, viz. vinblastine and vincristine, are mainly present in the leaves of C. roseus and inhibit the growth of cancer cells by hindering the formation of mitotic apparatus during cell division. Further, vinblastine helps increase the chance of surviving childhood leukemia while vincristine is used to treat Hodgkins disease. Great efforts have been made to produce these alkaloids at a large scale by the culture of plant cells. In view of this worldwide demand for commercial use, this book explores how to maximize the production of anticancer alkaloids from C. roseus. This reference book will be helpful for research students, teachers, ethnobotanists, pharmacologists and herbal growers who have a strong interest in this anticancer medicinal plant of paramount importance.

1.Strategies for enhancing alkaloids yield in Catharanthus roseus via Metabolic Engineering Approaches (Kexuan Tang and Qifang Pan).- 2.In vitro biotechnological production & pharmacological studies of anti-leukemic alkaloids of Catharanthus roseus (Hebert Jair Barrales Cure?o,Petra Andrade Hoyos, Alfonso Luna Cruz, Cesar Reyes Reyes, Salvador Ch?vez Salinas and Luis German Valdez L?pez).- 3.Plant efficiency and alkaloids production in Sadabahar (Catharanthus roseus L.): Role of potent PGRs and mineral nutrients (M. Naeem1, Tariq Aftab1, Mohd. Idrees, M. Masidur Alam, M. Masroor A. Khan and Moinuddin).- 4. Role of Biotechnology in Alkaloids Production (Amjad Khalil).- 5.Agricultural, pharmaceutical & Therapeutic Interior of Catharanthus Roseus (L.) (Md. Abul Barkat1, Harshita and Md. Akhlaquer Rahman).- 6.Elicitation enhances alkaloid yield in Catharanthus roseus (Dipti Tonk, A. Mujib, Muzamil Ali and Nadia Zafar).- 7. Catharanthus roseus: Thelg