Vinblastine – industrial production and use MCQs With Answer

Vinblastine – Industrial Production and Use MCQs With Answer

Vinblastine is a vital vinca alkaloid used as an anticancer agent, produced primarily from Catharanthus roseus through plant extraction, plant cell culture, and semi-synthetic coupling of vindoline and catharanthine. Industrial production emphasizes optimized cultivation, extraction, chromatographic purification, formulation as vinblastine sulfate, strict GMP, and analytical quality control using HPLC, LC-MS, and stability testing. Key topics include pharmacology (microtubule inhibition, M‑phase arrest), clinical uses, toxicity management (myelosuppression, neuropathy), sterile compounding, and regulatory safety for cytotoxic handling. This concise guide targets B. Pharm students preparing for exams and industrial roles. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. What is the primary natural source of vinblastine?

• Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle)
• Digitalis purpurea (foxglove)
• Papaver somniferum (opium poppy)
• Taxus baccata (yew tree)

Correct Answer: Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle)

Q2. Vinblastine belongs to which class of natural products?

• Vinca alkaloids
• Taxanes
• Anthracyclines
• Platinum complexes

Correct Answer: Vinca alkaloids

Q3. Which two monomeric alkaloids couple biosynthetically or semi‑synthetically to form vinblastine?

• Vindoline and catharanthine
• Vincristine and vinorelbine
• Taxol and baccatin
• Quinine and quinidine

Correct Answer: Vindoline and catharanthine

Q4. What is the primary mechanism of action of vinblastine?

• Inhibition of microtubule polymerization leading to M‑phase arrest
• DNA intercalation and free radical generation
• Topoisomerase II inhibition
• Crosslinking of DNA strands

Correct Answer: Inhibition of microtubule polymerization leading to M‑phase arrest

Q5. What is the dose‑limiting toxicity most commonly associated with vinblastine?

• Myelosuppression (bone marrow suppression)
• Cardiotoxicity
• Ototoxicity
• Severe nephrotoxicity

Correct Answer: Myelosuppression (bone marrow suppression)

Q6. In industry, vinblastine is most commonly formulated as which salt?

• Vinblastine sulfate
• Vinblastine hydrochloride
• Vinblastine acetate
• Vinblastine phosphate

Correct Answer: Vinblastine sulfate

Q7. What is the usual route of administration for vinblastine in clinical practice?

• Intravenous injection
• Oral tablets
• Intramuscular injection
• Topical application

Correct Answer: Intravenous injection

Q8. Which analytical technique is the standard for potency and purity assay of vinblastine in industrial QC?

• Reverse‑phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
• Ultraviolet spectrophotometry without separation
• Paper chromatography
• Simple colorimetric test

Correct Answer: Reverse‑phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Q9. What storage condition is typically recommended for vinblastine sulfate vials?

• Refrigerated (2–8 °C), protected from light
• Room temperature, exposed to light
• Frozen at −20 °C
• Stored in direct sunlight

Correct Answer: Refrigerated (2–8 °C), protected from light

Q10. Vinblastine primarily interferes with which phase of the cell cycle?

• M phase (mitosis)
• S phase (DNA synthesis)
• G1 phase
• G2 phase

Correct Answer: M phase (mitosis)

Q11. Compared to vincristine, vinblastine is clinically more associated with which adverse effect?

• Myelosuppression
• Severe peripheral neuropathy
• Profound constipation
• Cardiotoxicity

Correct Answer: Myelosuppression

Q12. Which industrial approach is used to produce vinblastine when natural plant yield is low?

• Semi‑synthetic coupling of vindoline and catharanthine
• Total chemical synthesis from benzene
• Extraction from microbial fermentation exclusively
• Synthesis from taxane precursors

Correct Answer: Semi‑synthetic coupling of vindoline and catharanthine

Q13. Which purification technique is commonly applied at industrial scale for vinblastine isolation?

• Preparative chromatography followed by crystallization
• Simple filtration through cotton wool
• Distillation under reduced pressure
• Only dialysis

Correct Answer: Preparative chromatography followed by crystallization

Q14. Which biotechnological strategy can increase vinblastine precursor yield in plant cell cultures?

• Elicitor treatment and metabolic engineering of Catharanthus roseus cells
• Growing cells in complete darkness without nutrients
• Adding antibiotics to the culture medium
• Removing all nitrogen sources

Correct Answer: Elicitor treatment and metabolic engineering of Catharanthus roseus cells

Q15. For impurity profiling of vinblastine, which technique provides high sensitivity and structural information?

• Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC‑MS)
• Simple melting point determination
• Paper electrophoresis
• Visible color comparison

Correct Answer: Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC‑MS)

Q16. Which handling precaution is essential during industrial compounding of vinblastine?

• Use of containment devices (biological safety cabinet or closed system) with PPE
• Handling on an open bench without gloves
• Mixing under direct sunlight to inactivate toxins
• Using ordinary household masks only

Correct Answer: Use of containment devices (biological safety cabinet or closed system) with PPE

Q17. Stability studies for vinblastine must routinely evaluate which stress condition?

• Photostability (light exposure)
• Exposure to magnetic fields
• Reaction with cellulose
• Biodegradation by common kitchen microbes

Correct Answer: Photostability (light exposure)

Q18. What is the common commercial dosage form of vinblastine supplied to hospitals?

• Lyophilized powder for reconstitution (injectable)
• Oral syrup
• Topical cream
• Transdermal patch

Correct Answer: Lyophilized powder for reconstitution (injectable)

Q19. Which malignancy is vinblastine commonly indicated for?

• Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Basal cell carcinoma of skin as a topical therapy
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Correct Answer: Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Q20. Which cytochrome P450 enzyme is primarily involved in vinblastine metabolism?

• CYP3A4
• CYP2D6
• CYP1A2
• CYP2C9

Correct Answer: CYP3A4

Q21. Vinblastine is contraindicated or used with extreme caution in which condition?

• Pregnancy due to teratogenic risk
• Mild seasonal allergic rhinitis
• Controlled hypertension only
• Corrected vitamin D deficiency

Correct Answer: Pregnancy due to teratogenic risk

Q22. Which diluent is commonly recommended for diluting vinblastine for IV administration?

• 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline)
• Undiluted ethanol
• Freshly squeezed orange juice
• Concentrated hydrogen peroxide

Correct Answer: 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline)

Q23. Which pharmacopeial requirement should industrial manufacturers follow for vinblastine quality?

• Compliance with relevant monograph (e.g., vinblastine sulfate monograph) and GMP
• Only visual inspection is required
• No documentation or batch records necessary
• Testing only once every five years

Correct Answer: Compliance with relevant monograph (e.g., vinblastine sulfate monograph) and GMP

Q24. Which type of contaminants is especially important to monitor after solvent extraction in vinblastine manufacture?

• Residual organic solvents
• Heavy metals from glassware only
• Excess cooking oil
• Natural sugars like glucose

Correct Answer: Residual organic solvents

Q25. Which process change can industrially increase overall vinblastine yield?

• Optimizing precursor supply (vindoline/catharanthine) via culture conditions and elicitors
• Reducing extraction solvent volume to zero
• Skipping chromatographic purification entirely
• Storing raw plant material in sunlight for weeks

Correct Answer: Optimizing precursor supply (vindoline/catharanthine) via culture conditions and elicitors

Q26. What sterility requirement applies to parenteral vinblastine products?

• They must be manufactured as sterile products under aseptic or terminal sterilization processes
• Sterility is optional because drug is cytotoxic
• Products are always administered orally so sterility is irrelevant
• Sterility can be achieved by simple room air exposure

Correct Answer: They must be manufactured as sterile products under aseptic or terminal sterilization processes

Q27. Disruption of microtubule dynamics by vinblastine most directly leads to which cellular event?

• Formation of defective mitotic spindle and metaphase arrest
• Direct DNA strand breaks by free radicals
• Inhibition of glycolysis in mitochondria
• Immediate cell membrane lysis

Correct Answer: Formation of defective mitotic spindle and metaphase arrest

Q28. Acute overdose of vinblastine would most likely present with which immediate critical effect?

• Severe bone marrow suppression leading to pancytopenia
• Immediate acute myocardial infarction
• Sudden improvement in vision
• Rapid hair growth

Correct Answer: Severe bone marrow suppression leading to pancytopenia

Q29. Which laboratory test is essential to monitor before each vinblastine dose in a patient?

• Complete blood count (CBC) with differential
• Fasting blood glucose only
• Urinalysis only
• Serum vitamin B12 level

Correct Answer: Complete blood count (CBC) with differential

Q30. How should waste materials contaminated with vinblastine be disposed of in an industrial or hospital setting?

• As cytotoxic hazardous waste, using appropriate containment and incineration per regulations
• Disposed in regular municipal trash bins
• Poured down the sink with plenty of water
• Burned openly outdoors without controls

Correct Answer: As cytotoxic hazardous waste, using appropriate containment and incineration per regulations

G S Sachin

I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.

Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com