Cytotoxicity of Vinca minor

Vinca minor L. (Apocynaceae) is a perennial sub-shrub, indigenous to northern Spain, western France, and central and southern Europe. V. minor contains eburnamine-type indole alkaloids including vincamine which has modulatory effects on brain circulation and neuronal homeostasis as well as antihypoxic and neuroprotective potencies [1].

The aim of this study is to determine the cytotoxic activity of the total alkaloidal extract and the alkaloidal fractions obtained from the aerial parts of the plant. In this study, the plant's alkaloidal extract was divided into three fractions using column chromatography and their in vitro cytotoxic activity against colon carcinoma (HT-29), colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2), breast ductal carcinoma (T47D), and the Swiss mouse embryo fibroblast (NIH/3T3) cell lines was evaluated by means of MTT and trypan blue assays. All alkaloidal fractions showed a dose dependent cytotoxic effect on the cell lines. IC₅₀ values confirmed that the growth and proliferation of NIH/3T3 cells were less affected in comparison to other cell lines. Fractions 1 and 3 showed the highest activity in terms of cytotoxicity. Estimated IC₅₀ from both methods was not noticeably different. Acknowledgements: Thanks go to Zardband company for supplying the plant material. References: [1] Vas A, Gulyas B (2005) Med Res Rev 25: 737–757.