Vinca minor - Common periwinkle exhibits no antimitotic effects

Author(s): Abel, G., Schneider, E.

Abstract: A dry extract of common periwinkle (Vinca minor, Apocynaceae) was investigated for cytostatic effects in human lymphocytes in vitro. Three independent tests were carried out performed with three different blood donors, applying four different treatment methods schedules in each case. The dry extract of Vinca minor was used in concentrations of between 50 and 2000 µg/ml blood culture. A blood culture containing 5 µg/ml Vincristine was used as a positive control. The microscopic analysis focussed on four points: mitotic index, C-mitoses polyploidies and micronuclei. In none of the three test series any clear significant mitotic inhibition effect of the Vinca extract could be established. Neither the values of the mitotic index nor the numbers of polyploidies and micronuclei were higher after treatment with Vinca extract as compared to the negative controls. A slight cytostatic effect was found only in one blood donor in concerning the induction of mitoses. But however the highest C-mitosis levels were clearly below those of the positive Vincristine control.

Keyword(s): Vinca minor

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