Rosy Periwinkle Flashcards
1
Q
where is the rosy periwinkle found
A
Madagascar - warm tropical climates + moist but well drained soils
2
Q
what is the issue raised with the Rosy Periwinkle and its extraction
A
biopiracy
3
Q
How much do Eli Lily make from it?
A
£75 mill/year
4
Q
What is a problem with the plant
A
900kg of leaves to make 1 gram of vincristine/vinblastine
Can’t be synthetically made
5
Q
What is the drug, an how successful is it
A
Vincristine —> child leukaemia survival rates from 10% to 90%
Vinblastine —> successful with Hodgkin’s lymphoma
