PLANTS and MEDICINE

 PLANTS and MEDICINE    

Henceforth Saturday blogs are to be devoted to medicinal plants. Being an item of relevance to all, at some spots vernacular terms /expressions may find a place to help a better comprehension. General readers would be also served by corresponding expressions in English. I, also submit that there may not be any definite sequence in the choice of topics. That would largely be governed by available references of veracity and authentic support information from Science literature.

PERI WINKLE                        

Though broadly named ‘Periwinkle’, there is an array of names to the same plant species: some of them are Madagascar periwinkle, Graveyard pw , Rose pw, Old maid, Bright eyes and Pink pw and in Tamil Nithyakalyaani [நித்ய கல்யாணி] .

Not a very tall item Grows to about 1 ½ - 2 ft high and bears the green foliage of single leaves over the entire stem terminating in cluster of  4-6 flowers through different states of blossoming. Botanically named Catharanthus roseus [old name Vinca rosea ]. Originated in Madagascar but has spread over the globe along the warm tropics. There are two varieties [rose petal] and white petal versions. To-date there are no intermediate shades –meaning that the two varieties stay genetically distinct.

Ready to draw attention of humans and animals alike, but grazing cattle keep off this plant. The plant’s biochemical defence is   through a milky fluid-the latex that contains alkaloids. Interestingly such milky plants deter the prolific grazers like goat, sheep and cattle. Animals possess innate ‘sensing’ skill to detect ‘eat or don’t signal’ from brain. They never dare experimenting in feed or fodder. 

Such a way side plant is a source of two medicinal products –Vincristine and Vinblastine – sought after for their value in treating specific type/stage in Cancer. The plant is known to make, over 200 alkaloid products that safeguard the plant from grazing and from invading pests. These secondary metabolites can be profitably used in synthesis of new alkaloid products as in synthetic products from Catharanthine and Vindoline  yielding Vinorelbine a new product for treating some types of lung cancer. Research in the West tries to make a fortune by developing anti-cancer alkaloids / formulations, even if by importing tons of Periwinkle. Thus it is a road side gold mine.

                      *************************************