Review ArticleOpen Access

Maytenus ovatus (schweinf.) An African Medicinal Plant Yielding Potential Anti-cancer Drugs

Volume 1 - Issue 7

**Vasanthakumar K¹, Sumesh Kumar S*² and Tsegay Shimelis³**

Author Information Open or Close
- ¹Professor of the Horticulture Program, Haramaya University, Ethiopia
- ²Asst Professor in Psychiatric Nursing, Haramaya University, Ethiopia
- ³Graduate Assistant of the Horticulture Program, Haramaya University, Ethiopia
*Corresponding author: S Sumesh Kumar, Asst Professor in Psychiatric Nursing , School Of Nursing and Midwifery, Haramaya University, Ethiopia

Received: December 01, 2017; Published: December 06, 2017

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2017.01.000571

Full Text PDF

To view the Full Article Peer-reviewed Article PDF

Abstract

Maytenus ovatus (Schweinf.) of the family Celastraceous is a shrub usually spiny with whitish flowers bearing reddish fruits and is widespread in the savannah regions of tropical Africa [1]. Mountains and sub-mountainous regions of African countries, viz., Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique and others are wild habitats for the species, Maytenus ovatus, M. serratus, M. heterophylla and M. senegalensis [2]. Maytansine, a benzo-ansamacrolide (ansamycin antibiotic) is a highly potent microtubuletargeted compound that induces mitotic arrest and kills tumor cells at sub-nano-molar concentrations was originally isolated from the Ethiopian shrub, Maytenus ovatus. Maytansine binds to tubulin at the rhizoxin binding site. It inhibits microtubule assembly, induces microtubule disassembly, and disrupts mitosis. Maytansine exhibits cytotoxicity against many tumor cell lines and also inhibit tumor growth in vivo [3]. Since the discovery of Maytansine from Maytenus ovatus in 1972 as a potent cytotoxic agent, further 53 more maytansinoids have been identified from wild plants, microorganisms and mosses [4].