Catharanthus (
Madagascar Periwinkle) is a
genusIn biology, a genus is a taxonomic unit used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The term comes from Latin genus "descent, family, type, gender" , cognate with – genos, "race, stock, kin" ..In addition, genus is a taxonomic rank in the hierarchy In biology, a genus (plural:...
of eight species of
herbaceousA herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
perennial plantA perennial plant or perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. When used by gardeners or horticulturalists, this term applies specifically to perennial herbaceous plants...
s, seven
endemicEndemism is the ecological state of being unique to a particular geographic location, such as a specific island, habitat type, nation, or other defined zone. To be endemic to a place or area means that it is found only in that part of the world and nowhere else. For example, many species of lemur...
to the island of
MadagascarMadagascar, or Republic of Madagascar , is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth-largest island in the world, and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are endemic to...
, the eighth native to the
Indian subcontinentThe Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent and other terms, is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate south of the Himalayas, forming a peninsula which extends southward into the Indian Ocean...
in southern
AsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.6% of the earth's total surface area and with approximately 4 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population.Asia is traditionally defined as part of the...
.Jordan
C. roseus goes by its common name "sadaphuli" (perennially flowering) in parts of
Western IndiaWest India or the Western region of India consists of the states of Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra, along with the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. It is highly industrialized, with a large urban population. Most of Western India was part of the Maratha Empire and...
.
- Catharanthus coriaceus Markgr. Madagascar.
- Catharanthus lanceus (Bojer ex A.DC.) Pichon.
Catharanthus (
Madagascar Periwinkle) is a
genusIn biology, a genus is a taxonomic unit used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The term comes from Latin genus "descent, family, type, gender" , cognate with – genos, "race, stock, kin" ..In addition, genus is a taxonomic rank in the hierarchy In biology, a genus (plural:...
of eight species of
herbaceousA herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
perennial plantA perennial plant or perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. When used by gardeners or horticulturalists, this term applies specifically to perennial herbaceous plants...
s, seven
endemicEndemism is the ecological state of being unique to a particular geographic location, such as a specific island, habitat type, nation, or other defined zone. To be endemic to a place or area means that it is found only in that part of the world and nowhere else. For example, many species of lemur...
to the island of
MadagascarMadagascar, or Republic of Madagascar , is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth-largest island in the world, and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are endemic to...
, the eighth native to the
Indian subcontinentThe Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent and other terms, is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate south of the Himalayas, forming a peninsula which extends southward into the Indian Ocean...
in southern
AsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.6% of the earth's total surface area and with approximately 4 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population.Asia is traditionally defined as part of the...
.Jordan
C. roseus goes by its common name "sadaphuli" (perennially flowering) in parts of
Western IndiaWest India or the Western region of India consists of the states of Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra, along with the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. It is highly industrialized, with a large urban population. Most of Western India was part of the Maratha Empire and...
.
Species
- Catharanthus coriaceus Markgr. Madagascar.
- Catharanthus lanceus (Bojer ex A.DC.) Pichon. Madagascar.
- Catharanthus longifolius (Pichon) Pichon. Madagascar.
- Catharanthus ovalis Markgr. Madagascar.
- Catharanthus pusillus (Murray) G.Don. Indian subcontinent.
- Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus is a species of Catharanthus native and endemic to Madagascar. Synonyms include Vinca rosea , Ammocallis rosea, and Lochnera rosea; other English names occasionally used include Cape Periwinkle, Rose Periwinkle, Rosy Periwinkle, and "Old-maid".In the wild, it is an endangered...
(L.) G.Don. Madagascar.
- Catharanthus scitulus (Pichon) Pichon. Madagascar.
- Catharanthus trichophyllus (Baker) Pichon. Madagascar.
Uses and cultivation
The species are self-propagating from seed; the seeds require a period of total darkness to germinate. Cuttings from mature plants will also root readily.
One species,
C. roseus, has been widely cultivated and introduced, becoming an
invasive species'Invasive species' is a phrase with several definitions. The first definition expresses the phrase in terms of non-indigenous species that adversely affect the habitats they invade economically, environmentally or ecologically...
in some areas.
Pharmacological uses
C. roseus has gained interest from the pharmaceutical industry; the
alkaloidAlkaloids are naturally occurring chemical compounds containing basic nitrogen atoms. The name derives from the word alkaline and was used to describe any nitrogen-containing base. Alkaloids are produced by a large variety of organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals and are part of...
s
vincristineVincristine , also known as leurocristine, is a vinca alkaloid from the Catharanthus roseus , formerly Vinca rosea and hence its name. It is a mitotic inhibitor, and is used in cancer chemotherapy....
and
vinblastineVinblastine is an antimicrotubule drug used to treat certain kinds of cancer, including Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, and testicular cancer.-History:...
from its sap have been shown to be an effective treatment for leukaemia and lymphoma. Although the sap is poisonous if ingested, some 70 useful alkaloids have been identified from it. In Madagascar, extracts have been used for hundreds of years in
herbal medicineHerbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, and phytotherapy...
for the treatment of diabetes, as hemostatics and
tranquilizerA tranquilizer, or tranquiliser , is a drug that induces tranquillity in an individual.The term "tranquilizer" is imprecise, and is usually qualified, or replaced with more precise terms:...
s, to lower
blood pressureBlood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. During each heartbeat, BP varies between a maximum and a minimum pressure...
, and as disinfectants. The extracts are not without their side effects, however, which include hair loss.
Vinca alkaloids
Vinca alkaloidAlkaloids are naturally occurring chemical compounds containing basic nitrogen atoms. The name derives from the word alkaline and was used to describe any nitrogen-containing base. Alkaloids are produced by a large variety of organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals and are part of...
s are
anti-mitoticA mitotic inhibitor is a type of drug derived from natural substances such as plant alkaloids and primarily used in cancer treatment and certain types of cancer research including cytogenetics. Cancer cells are able to grow and eventually metastasize through continuous mitotic division...
and anti-
microtubuleMicrotubules are one of the components of the cytoskeleton. They have a diameter of 25 nm and length varying from 200 nanometers to 25 micrometers. Microtubules serve as structural components within cells and are involved in many cellular processes including mitosis, cytokinesis, and vesicular...
agents. They are now produced synthetically and used as
drugsA pharmaceutical drug, also referred to as medicine, medication or medicament, can be loosely defined as any chemical substance intended for use in the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease.- Classification :...
in
cancerCancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth , invasion , and sometimes metastasis...
therapy and as
immunosuppressive drugImmunosuppressive drugs or immunosuppressive agents are drugs that inhibit or prevent activity of the immune system. They are used in immunosuppressive therapy to:...
s. These compounds are
vinblastineVinblastine is an antimicrotubule drug used to treat certain kinds of cancer, including Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, and testicular cancer.-History:...
,
vincristineVincristine , also known as leurocristine, is a vinca alkaloid from the Catharanthus roseus , formerly Vinca rosea and hence its name. It is a mitotic inhibitor, and is used in cancer chemotherapy....
,
vindesineVindesine is an anti-mitotic vinca alkaloid used in chemotherapy. It is used to treat many different types of cancer, including leukaemia, lymphoma, melanoma, breast cancer, and lung cancer....
and
vinorelbineVinorelbine is an anti-mitotic chemotherapy drug that is given as a treatment for some types of cancer, including breast cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.-Pharmacology:Vinorelbine is the first 5´NOR semi-synthetic vinca alkaloid...
. Periwinkle extracts and derivatives, such as
vinpocetineVinpocetine is a semisynthetic derivative alkaloid of vincamine , an extract from the periwinkle Vinca minor.Vinpocetine is reported to have cerebral blood-flow enhancing and neuroprotective effects, and is used as a...
, are also used as
nootropicNootropics, also referred to as smart drugs, memory enhancers, and cognitive enhancers, are drugs, supplements, nutraceuticals, and functional foods that are purported to improve mental functions such as cognition, memory, intelligence, motivation, attention, and concentration. The word nootropic...
drugs.
Catharanthus lanceus contains up to 6%
yohimbineYohimbine is a psychoactive drug of the tryptamine chemical class with stimulant and aphrodisiac effects. It is an alkaloid and is found naturally in Pausinystalia yohimbe , formerly known as Corynanthe yohimbe, as the herb's primary active constituent...
in its leaves.