Advances in pharmacological activity and drug delivery systems of vinca alkaloids

Vinca alkaloids (VAs), derived from the Catharanthus roseus, are naturally occurring or semi-synthetic alkaloids primarily used in the treatment approach for diverse types of cancer. They have shown significant efficacy in treating leukaemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma. Nevertheless, their clinical application is considerably limited owing to the severe side effects, low bioavailability, and multidrug resistance (MDR). Over the past few years, drug delivery systems such as nanoparticles, liposomes, and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) have been shown to improve the pharmacokinetic properties and tumour targeting of VAs. The use of multiple drugs in combination can also reduce the adverse reactions of VAs and significantly enhance their efficacy, thereby broadening their application. This review introduces the main pharmacologically active components of VAs, summarises their chemotherapeutic effects, and provides a statistical overview and analysis of recent research progress in VAs drug delivery technologies, offering a reference for further research and clinical application of VAs in cancer treatment.