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Catharanthus- the Madagascar Periwinkle

Scientific Name: Catharanthus rosea or Vinca rosea or Lochnera rosea

IUCN Status: Endangered (in the wild)
This flowering plant of Apocynaceae family is native and endemic to Madagascar. Now it is naturalized in all tropical countries.
It is also called as Graveyard plant- because the plant’s toughness and ability to survive in desolate, bleak and stony graveyards.
It was first described in 1759 by Carl Von Linne-a Swedish Naturalist as Vinca rosea.
In 1838, it was renamed as Lochnera rosea by Stephen Ladislaus Endlicher- an Austrain Botanist.
At the same time, George Don- a Scottish Botanist created the Genus Catharanthus, from Greek word Katharos~ pure; anthos~ a flower; on account of the neat and beautiful flowers distinguishing it from Vinca Genus. 
The Species roseus means rose colored because of Rosidin- a pink anthocyanin pigment.
Its White variant is Catharanthus alba. 
Due to extensive forest fires in Africa, this Species is endangered in the wild.
It is called Nayantara, Ushamanjari, NityaKalyani and Billaganneru in local parlance.
It is an evergreen shrub with oblong ovate, decussately opposite leaves.
Flowers are flat with 5 Pink/White Petals with dark centers. Flowers are bisexual and bloom throughout the year.
Fruits have narrow cylindrical follicles which produce black seeds.
Propagation is by seeds and stem cuttings.
Ethnobotanic importance of this floral species could be traced to Mesopotamian folklore as back as 2600BCE. 
Periwinkle is of great medical importance. It is an invaluable source of Anti-tumor Terpenoid Indole Alkaloids (TIA)- Vincristine and Vinblastine. This Vinca alkaloids obtained by dimerization of alkaloid Catharanthine, are used in treatment in present day chemo-therapies of Leukemia and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.(In Allopathy - Modern Medicine)
A semisynthetic component- Vinorelbine, prepared from Catharanthine is used in treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.
Periwinkle is known for its anti-diabetic properties. Our Indian Ayurveda suggests tea made from its petals to lower the blood sugar levels. 
In Assam, juice from its leaves is used to treat wasp stings.
In Puerto Rico and Cuba the flowers are made into decoction that is used as eyewash.
Roots are used as an abortifacient in Phillipines, to treat dysmenorrhea in Togo and to treat Malaria in Vietnam.
In Mauritius, infusion of leaves is used to treat indigestion and dyspepsia.  

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