vinca

VINCA

Other names

Cathranthus, madagscar periwinkle.

Regional names

Baramasi; sada bahar

Biological source

Vinca is the dried whole plant of catharanthus roseus G. Don family Apocynaceae. The plant was formerly designated as vinca rosea L.

Geographical source

The plant is indigenous to Madagascar, but is now widely cultivated in warm regions as ornamental plant. The plant grows wild and is cultivated in India, Africa, east Europe and Australia, which are the main commercial suppliers of the drug.

Characters

Vinca is a herbaceous subshurb about one meter high. The plant is woody at base. The leaves are oppositely arranged, nd are oblong with a petiolate acute base. These have a rounded apex with entire margin. The flowers are violet, pink or white in olour.

Constituents

· Ajmalicine

· Serpentine

· Iochnerine

· Tetrahydroalstonine

· Vincristine (Antineoplastic activity)

· Vinblastine (Antineoplastic activity)