Catharanthus, Madagascar Periwinkle Madagascar Periwinkle, Rosey Periwinkle, Rose Periwinkle Sadapushpa, Nayantara (Ayurveda) Nithiya kalyani , Sudukadu mallikai (Siddha) Sadabahar (Unani) Chang Chun Hua (TCM)

Catharanthus roseus
Step, E., Bois, D., Favourite flowers of garden and greenhouse (1896)

Catharanthus roseus
(Photo by Vengolis) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:

Catharanthus roseus (syn. Vinca rosea, Lochera rosea, Ammocallis rosea)

Parts used:

Herb; sometimes the root

Temperature & Taste:

Cold, dry. Bitter. Toxic

Constituents:

Indole Alkaloids: over 100 alkaloids (0.86% in the root, 0.67% in the leaf); vinblastine (0.78-1.22% in the root; 4.5-9.00% in the root bark) and vincristine (0.00025%) are especially potent anti-cancer medicines
Triterpenoids, Sesquiterpenoids, Monoterpenoids, Benzenoids, Flavonoids

Uses:

1. Clears Heat, Moves the Blood, Resolves Masses:
-various cancers: Bladder, Breast, Testicular, Liver, Non-small cell Lung Cancer, Lymphosarcoma
-Lymphoma, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma; very effective in Acute Leukemia in children and Lymphocytic Leukemias
–Lymphosarcoma, Choriocarcinoma, Neuroblastoma
-crude extracts showed significant effect against various cancer cell lines.
-strong effect against Multi-drug Resistant cancers
-anti-angiogenic effect

2. Clears Heat, Nourishes Blood
-Thrombocytopenic Purpurea, Hemolytic Anaemia

3. Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation:
-Amneorrhea, Dysmenorrhea
-cleanses and restores Uterus after childbirth
-also for Menopause and Menorrhagia (Duke)

4. Clears Heat, Resists Poison, Calms the Liver:
-Fever, Cold, Flu, Malaria
-acute Sore Throat, Cough
-Abscess, Boil, Toxic Sores, Ulcers, Dermatitis (topically and internally)
-Dysentery, Enteritis
-leaf extract is effective against streptococcal and staphylococcal infections
-Gonorrhea
-Hypertension
-Red, Sore Eyes (also as an eyewash)
-Insect bites (topically)

5. Clears Heat, Benefits the Kidneys:
-Oliguria, Hematuria
-effective against Diabetes
-Root has been used for Lumbago

Dose:

Powder of the Herb: 2–3 grams (up to 10 grams); 10 grams of leaf powder (daily), taken with hot water for Cancer and Leukemia although this dose should be gradually built up to..
Of the Flower: 5 grams twice daily for Diabetes; 9 flowers decocted in 1 pint of water for Colds and Sore Throat.
Infusion: 9 flowers added to 1 pint water and steeped in the sun for 3 hours. (Duke)
Decoction of the Herb: 4–8 grams; 30 grams is reportedly decocted in Malaysia (Medicinal plants of Southeast Asia. Malaysia, Wiart, 2000)
A decoction (1 in 8) can be taken in doses of 300–450mls.
Alternatively, 10 leaves and 10 flowers, decocted briefly. (Duke)
Some sources have recommended one fresh leaf, twice daily. (Indusyunic)
Expressed juice mixed with equal parts of Honey: 20–40mls
Crushed leaves can be applied topically to Sores and Ulcers.

Comment:

Vincristine and Vinblastine are used intravenously in modern medicine to treat Hodgkin’s Disease and pediatric Leukemias respectively.

Correctives:

Armenian (Red) Earth (Unani)

Substitute:

1. Periwinkle
2. Cotton root
3. Gelsemium (Unani)
4. Catharanthus roseus is regarded as a substitute for Rhazya stricta in Unani. (Indusyunic)

Main Combinations:

1. Cancer:
i. Catharanthus with Scutellaria Ban Zhi Lian, Oldenlandia Bai Hua She She Cao, Astragalus Huang Qi
ii. Potent Anti-Tumor and Anti-Angiogenic effect, Catharanthus with Barberry bark, Figwort (Xuan Shen), Coptis Huang Lian
iii. Lymphatic Cancer, Catharanthus with Self Heal (Xia Ku Cao), Figwort (Xuan Shen)
iv. Lung Cancer, Catharanthus with Black Nightshade, Houttuynia Yu Xing Cao, Bitter Almond (Ku Xing Ren)
v. Lung Cancer, Catharanthus with Plantain leaf, Comfrey, Licorice
vi. Breast Cancer, Catharanthus with Black Nightshade, Asparagus root (Tian Men Dong), Self Heal (Xia Ku Cao), Ctrus Qing Pi
vii. Liver Cancer, Catharanthus with Black Nighshade, Rhubarb, Wormwood
2. Diabetes: Catharanthus with Gymnema
3. Itching of the Skin, a paste of the leaves with Henna is applied (Unani)

Major Formulas:

Cautions:

1. Avoid overdose. Overdose causes severe leukopenia.
2. Not used in Pregnancy
3. Avoid use or use very cautiously in those with Liver disease; SGOT and SGPT levels can increase significantly with oral administration.
4. Burning skin has been reported as an adverse reaction to internal administration.

Toxicity:

1. Indole alkaloids of Catharanthus induce granulocytopenia and bone marrow depression.
2. Ethanol Extract had no toxic effects on Liver or Kidney at a dose of 200mg/kg in animals.
3. Methanol extract in doses of 0.1 to 1 g/kg to rats didn’t cause mortality.
4. Evaluation of Acute Oral Toxicity of Ethanol Leaves Extract of Catharanthus roseus in Wistar Albino Rats

Main Preparations used:

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• Extra Info
  
• Research

1. GENERAL / REVIEW: –Indole Alkaloids from Catharanthus roseus: Bioproduction and Their Effect on Human Healt –Ornamental Exterior versus Therapeutic Interior of Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus): The Two Faces of a Versatile Herb –Vinca Alkaloids 2. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY: –Leaf extract (0.05–0.4 g/kg) showed anti-inflammatory activity in animal experiments. 3. ANTI-FUNGAL: –Antifungal Activities of Volatile Secondary Metabolites of Four Diaporthe Strains Isolated from Catharanthus roseus –Antifungal Compound Isolated from Catharanthus roseus L. (Pink) for Biological Control of Root Rot Rubber Diseases 4. ANTIOXIDANT: –Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Properties of Alkaloids from Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don 5. ANTI-DIABETIC: –Crude extracts reportedly have no hypoglycemic activity, although a number of isolated alkaloids have shown hypoglycemic activity. –Catharanthus roseus Combined with Ursolic Acid Attenuates Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes through Insulin Secretion and Glycogen Storage –A Phenolic Fraction from Catharanthus roseus L. Stems Decreases Glycemia and Stimulates Insulin Secretion –Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Properties of Alkaloids from Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don –Hypoglycemic Activity of Aqueous Extracts from Catharanthus roseus –The juice of fresh leaves of Catharanthus roseus Linn. reduces blood glucose in normal and alloxan diabetic rabbits –Antihyperglycemic activity of Catharanthus roseus leaf powder in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats –Anti-diabetic potential of Catharanthus roseus Linn. and its effect on the glucose transport gene (GLUT-2 and GLUT-4) in streptozotocin induced diabetic wistar rats –Vindoline—A Natural Product from Catharanthus Roseus Reduces Hyperlipidemia and Renal Pathophysiology in Experimental Type 2 Diabetes 6. IMMUNOPOTENTIATING: –Immunopotentiating Effect of Vinca Alkaloids on the Antibody Response to Sheep Red Blood Cells in the Mouse

7. ANTIFERTILITY: –A comparison of the antifertility effects of alkylating agents and vinca alkaloids in male rats. 8. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE: –An exploration of the potential mechanisms and translational potential of five medicinal plants for applications in Alzheimer’s disease 9. BRAIN FUNCTION/ SEDATIVE/ DEPRESSION/ ENHANCE MEMORY: –some of the alkaoids benefit brain health by improving glucose and oxygen supply. Some have reportedly shown increase in serotonin levels and are beneficial in Depression. Memory-enhancing effects have also been reported. (Hippocratic, V9, N3, 2014) 10. CANCER Vinblastine and vincristine are used in modern medicine, although vincristine is found in amounts too small to be effective in herbal medicine. However, the ethanol extract of the herb has demonstrated effects against numerous cancer cell lines. It has been found especially effective in multi-drug resistant Cancers.   Vinblastine is found in levels of around 15 in the root, and 4.5–9% in the root-bark, meaning its effects can be viewed in herbal therapy. However, Vincristine is present in such small amounts that its effects are not relevant in herbal therapy. –Enhanced anti-tumour effects of Vinca alkaloids given separately from cytostatic therapies –Isolation and Characterization of Antineoplastic Alkaloids from Catharanthus Roseus L. Don. Cultivated in Egypt –Vincristine in the Treatment of Neoplastic Disease LEUKEMIA –Catharanthus roseus Aqueous Extract is Cytotoxic to Jurkat Leukaemic T-cells but Induces the Proliferation of Normal Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells –Comparative effects of vinca alkaloids (VCR, VDS) and epipodophyllotoxin (VP16) on murine myeloblastic leukaemia. LUNG: –Safety and Efficacy of Vinorelbine in the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer