Vinblastine Sulfate (Supplement)

Publisher Summary Vinblastine or vincaleukoblastine is an indole alkaloid obtained from Madagascan periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus , which has been formerly designated “ Vinca rosea L .” Vinblastine is one of the antineoplastic agents and is mainly used for the treatment of Hodgkin's disease and other lymphomas, as well as choriocarcinoma. This chapter presents the study in which the structure of vinblastine is deduced by a combination of chemical degradation and spectral data that indicates that the molecule is a dimeric indoleindoline (bisindole) and is composed of two parts. The X-ray crystal-structure determination of vincristine methiodide dehydrate defines the absolute stereochemistry of vincristine; vinblastine should, therefore, have an absolute structure in view of the known relationship between two alkaloids.