Page 138 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303 (1)

Pharmacognosy-2 (PG303) Level 2 Clinical Pharmacy-Pharm D

CATHARANTHUS
(vinca)

It is the dried whole plant of Catharanthus roseus G., Family: Apocyanaceae.

It is probably indigenous to Madagascar but now it is growing in the tropics and is widely
cultivated as ornamental or for its alkaloids in Australia, South Africa, South America, Europe,
and Egypt.

The plant is an erect, pubescent herb or subshrub, has a long creeping rhizome, woody at
the base and 40- 80 cm high. Flower is single, originating from the axil of the upper leaves and
having long stalk, funnel shaped green calyx, plate like blue, white or pink corolla.

Constituents
Catharanthus contains several alkaloids. More than 55 different alkaloids have been
isolated. The most important are vinblastine, vincristine, vincaleukoblastine, vinleurosine and
vinrosidine.

Uses
1- Vinblastine sulphate is used in treating wide variety of neoplasma.
2- Vincristine sulphate is used in treating leukemia in children.

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