Biosynthesis, extraction, detection and pharmacological attributes of vinblastine and vincristine, two important chemotherapeutic alkaloids of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don: A review

•Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don is an ornamental and medicinally important plant of apocynaceae family having large number of pharmaceutically active compounds in it.•Vinblastine and vincristine are two terpenoid indole alkaloids having anticancerous activy which are only found in C. roseus.•The biosynthetic pathway, mode of action and the limitation of these alkaloids are important to increase their production along with uses.•These alkaloids act on microtubule to restrict cell cycle of cancerous cell. The demand for natural product is growing their interest in our daily life. It makes Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don a crucial member of family Apocynaceae due to having its medicinal importance. It's well known for its traditional pharmacological application especially correlated with its phytochemical composition. C. roseus is a source of vast phytochemicals including alkaloids, essential oils, phenols, carbohydrates, saponins and flavonoids, but alkaloids are the predominant phytochemicals with their medicinal activity. Interestingly, C. roseus is the only source of vinblastine (VLB) and vincristine (VCR), two main medicinally sound expensive anti-cancerous bis-indole alkaloids showing their activity as mitotic poisons. They cause mitotic arrest by disrupting microtubules. The present review deals with vis-à-vis outline of VLB and VCR with their biosynthesis, extraction, detection, mode of action and their limitation. It helps to increase the knowledge on its mechanism to arrest tumour cell growth along with their side effects during over doses. As well as the lacuna and their future directions will be discussed for future research. Though these are required in a very minute quantity for the treatment, but it is important to increase the production of these two costly alkaloids by using cost effective biotechnological methods.