PERIWINKLE Catharanthus roseus
Apocynaceae
San: Nityakalyani; Hin: Sadabahar, Baramassi; Mal: Ushamalari, Nityakalyani Tel:
Billaganeru; Tam: Sudukattu mallikai; Pun: Rattanjot; Kan: Kasikanigale, Nitya Mallige
Importance
Periwinkle or Vinca is an erect handsome herbaceous perennial plant which is a
chief source of patented cancer and hypotensive drugs. It is one of the very few medicinal
plants which has a long history of uses as diuretic, antidysenteric, haemorrhagic and
antiseptic. It is known for use in the treatment of diabetes in Jamaica and India. The
alkaloids vinblastine and vincristine present in the leaves are recognized as anticancerous
drugs. Vinblastine in the form of vinblastin sulphate is available in market under the trade
name "VELBE" and Vincristine sulphate as "ONCOVIN" (Eli Lilly). Vinblastine is used in
combination with other anticancer agents for the treatment of lymphocytic lymphoma,
Hodgkin’s disease, testicular carcinoma and choriocarcinoma. Vincristine is used in acute
leukemia, lymphosarcoma and Wilm’s tumour. Its roots are a major source of the alkaloids,
raubasine (ajmalicine), reserpine and serpentine used in the preparation of antifibrillic and
hypertension-relieving drugs. It is useful in the treatment of choriocarcinoma and Hodgkin's
disease-a cancer affecting lymph glands, spleen and liver. Its leaves are used for curing
diabetes, menorrhagia and wasp stings. Root is tonic, stomachic, hypotensive, sedative and
tranquilliser (Narayana and Dimri,1990 ).
Distribution
The plant is a native of Madagascar and hence the name Madagascar Periwinkle. It
is distributed in West Indies, Mozambique, South Vietnam, Sri Lanka , Philippines and
Australia. It is well adapted to diverse agroclimatic situations prevalent in India and is
commercially cultivated in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh
and Assam. USA, Hungary, West Germany, Italy, Netherlands and UK are the major
consumers.
Botany
Catharanthus roseus (Linn.) G.Don. syn. Vinca rosea Linn. belongs to the family
Apocynaceae. It is an erect highly branched lactiferous perennial herb growing up to a height
of one metre. Leaves are oblong or ovate, opposite, short-petioled, smooth with entire
margin. Flowers are borne on axils in pairs. There are three flower colour types , pink,
pink-eyed and white. Calyx with 5 sepal, green, linear, subulate. Corolla tube is cylindrical
with 5 petals, rose-purple or white with rose-purple spot in the centre; throat of corolla tube
hairy, forming a corona-like structure. The anthers are epipetalous borne on short filaments
inside the bulging distal end of corolla tube converging conically above the stigma. Two
characteristic secretary systems, namely a column like nectarium on both sides of pistil and
a secretory cringulam circling the papillate stigma with a presumed role in pollination -
fecundation process are present. Ovary bicarpellary, basally distinct with fused common
style and stigma. The dehiscent fruit consists of a pair of follicles each measuring about 25
mm in length and 2.3 mm in diameter, containing up to thirty linearly arranged seeds with a
thin black tegumen. On maturity, the follicles split along the length dehiscing the seeds.
Agrotechnology
Periwinkle grows well under tropical and subtropical climate. A well distributed
rainfall of 1000 mm or more is ideal. In north India the low winter temperatures adversely
affect the crop growth. It can grow on any type of soil ,except those which are highly saline,
alkaline or waterlogged. Light soils, rich in humus are preferable for large scale cultivation
since harvesting of the roots become easy.