Genetic engineering of Catharanthus roseus to enhance production of anticancer pharmaceutical compounds
The medicinal plant, Catharanthus roseus, is the source of pharmaceutically valuable anticancer alkaloids, vincristine (VCR) and vinblastine (VBL). These alkaloids are produced only in C. roseus and at extremely low levels (0.0002 wt%). Due to their low levels, the isolation of these compounds is bo...
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/2047/D20194128 |
| Summary: | The medicinal plant, Catharanthus roseus, is the source of pharmaceutically valuable anticancer alkaloids, vincristine (VCR) and vinblastine (VBL). These alkaloids are produced only in C. roseus and at extremely low levels (0.0002 wt%). Due to their low levels, the isolation of these compounds is both laborious and costly, ranging from $4 to $60 million/kg. Despite these barriers, these alkaloids have been effectively used to treat cancer for over 50 years. |
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