Document Type : Letters to the Editor
Authors
1
Department of Genetics ,Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, TeMSC,Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2
Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
3
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Go.C, Islamic Azad University, Gorgan, Iran
4
Integrative Oncology Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
5
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Go.C, Islamic Azad University, Gorgan, Iran
6
Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Sciences, Go.C, Islamic Azad University, Gorgan, Iran
Abstract
Vinca herbacea Waldst. & Kit., a creeping perennial herb of the Apocynaceae family, is a lesser-studied species native to temperate regions of Europe and Asia, including northern Iran. The family Apocynaceae is renowned for producing monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs) with diverse pharmacological activities. Among these, Isovindolinine is a naturally occurring indole alkaloid exhibiting cytotoxic, bioactive, and antimicrobial properties and may serve as a source for novel therapeutic agents. Although previously reported in other Vinca species, its presence in Vinca herbacea has not been documented. In this study, aerial parts of Vinca herbacea were collected from Mazandaran Province, Iran, and extracted using ethanol, n-propanol, and butanol. GC–MS analysis of the ethanolic extracts revealed Isovindolinine in stems (retention time 54.34 min, 93% match) and leaves (54.24 min, 91% match), accounting for 1.50% and 1.41% of total ion chromatograms, respectively. No detectable levels were observed in flowers or in n-propanol and butanol extracts. This represents the first global report of Isovindolinine in Vinca herbacea. The organ-specific accumulation in photosynthetic tissues suggests targeted biosynthesis, highlighting the species as a promising natural source of bioactive MIAs. Further structural and bioactivity studies are recommended to explore its medicinal potential and guide sustainable utilization.
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