Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle)

  • Rowan McOnegal
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Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle). Rowan McOnegal. Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). Source: Wellcome Collection.

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Small plant with dark green oval leaves and flat petalled pink flowers. It is the source of vinca alkaloids, used in chemotherapy (as vinblastine, vincristine, etc) for leukaemia and other cancers. Has been used as a herbal remedy for diabetes. Its investigation as a treatment for arthritis led to the discovery of its cytotoxic properties.

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