Catharanthus roseus:

COMMON NAME                    : Madagascar periwinkle (or) Periwinkle.

BIOLOGICAL NAME              : Catharanthus roseus

OTHER COMMON NAMES    : Madagascar periwinkle, Annual vinca, Vinca, Bright-eyes, Old-maid, Rose periwinkle, Pink periwinkle, Cape periwinkle.

IN OTHER LANGUAGE NAMES :

                          In Tamil,  Nithiya Kalyani(நித்தியக் கல்யாணி), Pattippu (பட்டிப்பூ).      

                          In Telugu, Billa Ganneru (బిళ్ళ గన్నేరు).

                     In Hindi, Sadabahar (सदाबहार)

                         In Malayalam, Shavam Naari (ഷവം നാരി).

 

USES :

MEDICINAL USES :

Periwinkle has long been cultivated for herbal medicine. Madagascar periwinkle has been used as a traditional medicine in India. In Ayurveda, the extracts of Periwinkle's roots and shoots, though poisonous, are used against several diseases like diabetes, malaria, and Hodgkin's lymphoma. It can be consumed orally by humans, and It is cited. (Many of the vinca alkaloids were first isolated from Catharanthus roseus). The substances are vinblastine and vincristine extracted from the plant are used in the treatment of leukemia and Hodgkin's lymphoma. An infusion of the flowers is used to treat mild diabetes.

In the 1950's Tests by pharmaceutical companies were showed the presence of several medically active alkaloids in Periwinkle, especially the compound vincristine, which has been shown to have activity against leukemia. The alkaloids, when isolated from the plant, are highly toxic but have also been shown to reduce the numbers of white blood cells, leading to applications and It has revolutionized conventional cancer therapy. (vincristine and vinblastine are prescribed in anticancer therapy, particularly in cases of acute leukemia, especially in children)The isolated alkaloids are used to treat and other cancers. Catharanthus roseus is cultivated as a source of these alkaloids, several of which are extracted and used allopathically.

They are usually part of a complex chemotherapy protocol. Used in isolation, they have several side-effects (alopecia, nausea, and bone marrow depression). Preparations of ajmalicine are used to treat the psychological and behavioral problems of senility, sensory problems (dizziness, tinnitus, cranial traumas, and their neurological complications). The dried root is an industrial source of ajmalicine, which increases the blood flow in the brain and peripheral parts of the body. Ajmalicine, and another alkaloid serpentine, were prescribed in the treatment of hypertension.

The leaves and aerial parts of Catharanthus roseus have traditional uses. A decoction is taken to treat hypertension, indigestion, asthma, menstrual irregularities, dyspepsia, chronic constipation, diarrhea, malaria, dengue fever, diabetes, cancer, and skin diseases. Well known as an oral hypoglycaemic agent, the plant is also considered to be depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, purgative, and vermifuge. Extracts from the leaves have been applied externally as antiseptic agents for the healing of wounds; to relieve the effects of wasp stings; against hemorrhage, skin rash, and as a mouthwash to treat toothache. The plant is flowering and can be dried for later use.