Page 156 - Phytochemistry 2 (06-PG 605)

III-plant derived anti-cancer drugs

Mechanism of action
1- Antimitotic
Tubulin is a protein in the mitotic spindle, the building blockof
microtubules (tubulin polymer).
The chromosomes separate with the assistance ofmicrotubules and
after separation the microtubules are (depolymerized) transformed
back to tubulin

i- Anticancer drugs bind to protein tubulin, preventingits
polymerization into microtubules. results in mitotic arrest.
Examples are: vincristine, vinblastine,…