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{{short description|Species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Catharanthus roseus (Pink Madagascar Periwinkle).jpg
| image_caption = Close-up of a pink ''Catharanthus roseus'' flower
| image_alt = Close-up of pink ''Catharanthus roseus'' flower with five petals and darker central eye
| genus = Catharanthus
| species = roseus
| authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]) [[George Don|G.Don]]<ref name=WCSP>{{cite web |url=http://wcsp.science.kew.org/namedetail.do?name_id=35719 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215175535/http://wcsp.science.kew.org/namedetail.do?name_id=35719 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 15, 2018 |title=''Catharanthus roseus'' |work=[[World Checklist of Selected Plant Families]] (WCSP) |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] }}</ref>
| synonyms = {{Species list
| Vinca rosea | L.
| Pervinca rosea | (L.) Gaterau
| Lochnera rosea | (L.) Rchb. ex Spach
| Ammocallis rosea | (L.) Small
}}
}}
[[File:A white colored, Catharanthus Roseus flower.jpg|frameless|right|alt=White flower with yellow center]]

'''''Catharanthus roseus''''', commonly known as '''bright eyes''', '''Cape periwinkle''', '''graveyard plant''', '''Madagascar periwinkle''', '''old maid''', '''pink periwinkle''', '''rose periwinkle''',<ref name="grin">{{GRIN | access-date = 4 August 2019}}</ref> is a [[perennial]] species of [[flowering plant]] in the family [[Apocynaceae]]. It is native and [[endemism|endemic]] to [[Madagascar]], but is grown elsewhere as an ornamental and [[medicinal plant]], and now has a [[pantropical]] distribution. It is a source of the drugs [[vincristine]] and [[vinblastine]], used to treat cancer.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Moudi|first1=Maryam|last2=Go|first2=Rusea|last3=Yien|first3=Christina Yong Seok|last4=Nazre|first4=Mohd.|date=2013-11-04|title=Vinca Alkaloids|journal=International Journal of Preventive Medicine|volume=4|issue=11|pages=1231–1235|issn=2008-7802|pmc=3883245|pmid=24404355}}</ref> It was formerly included in the genus ''[[Vinca]]'' as ''Vinca rosea''.

It has many vernacular names among which are ''arivotaombelona'' or ''rivotambelona'', ''tonga'', ''tongatse'' or ''trongatse'', ''tsimatiririnina'', and ''vonenina''.<ref name=MDME>{{Cite dictionary|url=https://en.mondemalgache.org/bins/taxonLists?kingdom=B&order=1&range=C#catharanthusroseus|title=Botanical scientific bames|dictionary=Malagasy Dictionary and Malagasy Encyclopedia|language=en|date=2001|editor-first=Jean-Marie|editor-last=de La Beaujardière|access-date=2022-11-01|archive-date=2022-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101234935/https://en.mondemalgache.org/bins/taxonLists?kingdom=B&order=1&range=C#catharanthusroseus}}</ref>

== Taxonomy ==
Two varieties are recognized:
* ''Catharanthus roseus'' var. ''roseus''
: Synonymy for this variety
::''Catharanthus roseus'' var. ''angustus'' Steenis ex Bakhuizen F.<ref>Steenis ex Bakhuizen f., Blumea 6: 384. 1950.</ref>
:: ''Catharanthus roseus'' var. ''albus'' [[George Don|G.Don]]<ref name = Don>[[George Don|G.Don]], Gen. Hist. 4(1): 95. 1837.</ref>
:: ''Catharanthus roseus'' var. ''occellatus'' G.Don<ref name = Don />
:: ''Catharanthus roseus'' var. ''nanus'' Markgr.<ref>Markgr., Adansonia, ser. 2. 12: 222. 1972.</ref>
:: ''Lochnera rosea f. alba'' (G.Don) Woodson<ref>Woodson, N. Amer. Fl. 29: 124. 1938.</ref>
:: ''Lochnera rosea'' var. ''ocellata'' (G.Don) Woodson
* ''Catharanthus roseus var''. ''angustus'' (Steenis) Bakh. f.<ref>Bakh. f.Blumea 6 (2): 384. 1950.</ref>
: Synonymy for this variety
:: ''Catharanthus roseus'' var. ''nanus'' Markgr.<ref>Markgr. Adansonia, ser. 2. 12: 222. 1972.</ref>
:: ''Lochnera rosea'' var. ''angusta'' Steenis<ref>Steenis Trop. Nat. 25: 18. 1936.</ref>

== Description ==
[[File:Close-up view of Catharanthus roseus (known as Nayantara in Bengali) in West Bengal, India, photographed by Yogabrata Chakraborty, on October 2, 2021.jpg|thumb|In morning|alt=Close-up view of flower in morning]]
''Catharanthus roseus'' is an evergreen [[subshrub]] or [[herbaceous]] plant growing {{convert|1|m|in|0|abbr=on}} tall. The leaves are oval to oblong, {{convert|2.5–9|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1–3.5|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} wide, glossy green, hairless, with a pale midrib and a short petiole {{convert|1-1.8|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} long; they are arranged in opposite pairs. The flowers range from white with a yellow or red center to dark pink with a darker red center, with a basal tube {{convert|2.5–3|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} long and a [[Corolla (flower)|corolla]] {{convert|2-5|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} diameter with five petal-like lobes. The fruit is a pair of [[follicle (fruit)|follicles]] {{convert|2-4|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|3|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} wide.<ref name="rhs">Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan {{ISBN|0-333-47494-5}}.</ref><ref name="foc">Flora of China: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200018366 ''Catharanthus roseus'']</ref><ref name="com">College of Micronesia: [http://www.comfsm.fm/~dleeling/botany/1999/vhp/rosnak01.html ''Catharanthus roseus'']</ref><ref name="jeps">Jepson Flora: [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?553,559,560 ''Catharanthus roseus'']</ref>

== Ecology ==
In its natural range along the dry coasts of southern Madagascar, Catharanthus roseus is considered weedy and invasive, often self-seeding prolifically in disturbed areas along roadsides and in fallow fields.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Andriamanalintsoa |first1=Jean Joseph |title=Contribution a l'etude de la producition de la pervenche de Madagascar ou Catharanthus roseus, Cas d' Ambovombe, d'Amboasary-sud, de Beloha et Tsihombe |date=1995 |publisher=Universityersité d'Antananarivo, Ecole Superieur des Sciences Agronomiques |location=Antananarivo, Madagascar |language=French |format=PhD Dissertation| url=http://madadoc.irenala.edu.mg/documents/v4312_MEM%2012099.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Neimark |first1=Ben |title=Green grabbing at the 'pharm' gate: rosy periwinkle production in southern Madagascar |journal=The Journal of Peasant Studies |date=2012 |volume=39 |issue=2 |page=423-445 |doi=10.1080/03066150.2012.666975 |s2cid=153584071 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/citedby/10.1080/03066150.2012.666975?scroll=top&needAccess=true&role=tab |access-date=14 July 2023|url-access=subscription }}</ref> It is also widely cultivated and is [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalized]] in subtropical and tropical areas of the world such as Australia, [[Bangladesh]], India, [[Malaysia]], [[Pakistan]], and the United States.<ref name="rhs" /> It is so well adapted to growth in Australia that it is listed as a noxious weed in [[Western Australia]] and the [[Australian Capital Territory]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jcu.edu.au/orpheus-island-research-station/information-for/catharanthus-roseus|title=Catharanthus roseus|publisher=Orpheus Island Research Station – James Cook University|access-date=2 November 2015|archive-date=2 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102143818/https://www.jcu.edu.au/orpheus-island-research-station/information-about/flora-and-fauna/terrestrial-flora/weeds/catharanthus-roseus|url-status=dead}}</ref> and also in parts of eastern Queensland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/03030800-0b07-490a-8d04-0605030c0f01/media/Html/Catharanthus_roseus.htm|title=Factsheet – Catharanthus roseus|publisher=Queensland Government|access-date=2 November 2015|archive-date=12 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312000251/http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/03030800-0b07-490a-8d04-0605030c0f01/media/Html/Catharanthus_roseus.htm}}</ref>
[[File:Catharanthus roseus 105.jpg|alt=|thumb|240x240px|Pale Pink with Red Centre Cultivar]]

== Cultivation ==
As an ornamental plant, it is appreciated for its hardiness in dry and nutritionally deficient conditions, popular in subtropical [[garden]]s where temperatures never fall below {{convert|5-7|C|F}}, and as a warm season [[bedding plant]] in temperate gardens. It is noted for its long flowering period, throughout the year in tropical conditions, and from spring to late autumn, in warm temperate climates. Full sun and well-drained soil are preferred. Numerous [[cultivar]]s have been selected, for variation in flower color (white, mauve, peach, scarlet, and reddish orange), and also for tolerance of cooler growing conditions in temperate regions.

Notable cultivars include 'Albus' (white flowers), 'Grape Cooler' (rose-pink; cool-tolerant), the Ocellatus Group (various colors), and 'Peppermint Cooler' (white with a red center; cool-tolerant).<ref name="rhs" />

In the U.S. it often remains identified as "Vinca" although botanists have shifted its identification and it often can be seen growing along roadsides in the south.

In the United Kingdom it has gained the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s [[Award of Garden Merit]]<ref name = RHSPF>{{cite web
| url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/98105/i-Catharanthus-roseus-i/Details
| title = RHS Plantfinder - ''Catharanthus roseus''
| access-date=12 January 2018}}</ref> (confirmed 2017).<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 16 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 24 January 2018}}</ref>

== Uses ==

=== Traditional ===
[[File:Catharanthus in Rajshahi, Bangladesh.jpg|thumb]]
In [[Ayurveda]] (Indian traditional medicine) the extracts of its roots and shoots, although poisonous, are used against several diseases. In [[traditional Chinese medicine]], extracts from it have been used against numerous diseases, including [[diabetes]], [[malaria]], and [[Hodgkin's lymphoma]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Nejat |first1=Naghmeh |last2=Valdiani |first2=Alireza |last3=Cahill |first3=David |last4=Tan |first4=Yee-How |last5=Maziah |first5=Mahmood |last6=Abiri |first6=Rambod |date=2015 |title=Ornamental Exterior versus Therapeutic Interior of Madagascar Periwinkle ( Catharanthus roseus ): The Two Faces of a Versatile Herb |journal=The Scientific World Journal |language=en |volume=2015 |article-number=982412 |doi=10.1155/2015/982412 |issn=2356-6140 |pmc=4312627 |pmid=25667940 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name="foc" /> In the 1950s, [[vinca alkaloid]]s, including [[vinblastine]] and [[vincristine]], were isolated from ''Catharanthus roseus'' while screening for anti-diabetic drugs.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Heijden|first1=Robert|last2=Jacobs|first2=Denise|last3=Snoeijer|first3=Wim|last4=Hallard|first4=Didier|last5=Verpoorte|first5=Robert|date=2004-03-01|title=The Catharanthus Alkaloids:Pharmacognosy and Biotechnology|journal=Current Medicinal Chemistry|volume=11|issue=5|pages=607–628|doi=10.2174/0929867043455846|pmid=15032608|issn=0929-8673}}</ref> This chance discovery led to increased research into the chemotherapeutic effects of vinblastine and vincristine. Conflict between historical [[traditional knowledge|indigenous]] use, and a [[patent]] from 2001 on ''C. roseus''-derived drugs by [[Western world|western]] pharmaceutical companies, without compensation, has led to accusations of [[biopiracy]].<ref name="Karasov">{{cite journal|last=Karasov|first=Corliss|year=2001|title=Who Reaps the Benefits of Biodiversity?|journal=[[Environmental Health Perspectives]]|volume=109|issue=12|pages=A582–A587|doi=10.2307/3454734|jstor=3454734|pmc=1240518|pmid=11748021}}</ref>

=== Medicinal ===
[[Vinblastine]] and [[vincristine]], [[chemotherapy medication]]s used to treat several types of cancers, are found in the plant<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gansäuer|first1=Andreas|title=Metal Catalyzed Reductive C—C Bond Formation: A Departure from Preformed Organometallic Reagents|last2=Justicia|first2=José|last3=Fan|first3=Chun-An|last4=Worgull|first4=Dennis|last5=Piestert|first5=Frederik|publisher=[[Springer Science & Business Media]]|year=2007|isbn=978-3-540-72879-5|editor-last=Krische|editor-first=Michael J.|editor-link1=Michael J. Krische|series=Topics in Current Chemistry|volume=279|pages=25–52|chapter=Reductive C—C bond formation after epoxide opening via electron transfer|doi=10.1007/128_2007_130|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A5xcVmT9iIQC&pg=PA25}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Cooper|first1=Raymond|title=Botanical Miracles: Chemistry of Plants That Changed the World|last2=Deakin|first2=Jeffrey John|publisher=[[CRC Press]]|year=2016|isbn=978-1-4987-0430-4|pages=46–51|chapter=Africa's gift to the world|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aXGmCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA46}}</ref><ref name="MoleculesReview">{{cite journal|last1=Keglevich|first1=Péter|last2=Hazai|first2=Laszlo|last3=Kalaus|first3=György|last4=Szántay|first4=Csaba|year=2012|title=Modifications on the basic skeletons of vinblastine and vincristine|journal=[[Molecules (journal)|Molecules]]|volume=17|issue=5|pages=5893–5914|doi=10.3390/molecules17055893|pmc=6268133|pmid=22609781|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Raviña|first=Enrique|title=The evolution of drug discovery: From traditional medicines to modern drugs|publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]]|year=2011|isbn=978-3-527-32669-3|pages=157–159|chapter=Vinca alkaloids|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iDNy0XxGqT8C&pg=PA157}}</ref> and are [[biosynthesis|biosynthesiz]]ed from the coupling of the alkaloids [[catharanthine]] and [[vindoline]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hirata|first1=K.|url=https://archive.org/details/medicinalaromati0006unse/page/46|title=Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry 26|last2=Miyamoto|first2=K.|last3=Miura|first3=Y.|publisher=[[Springer-Verlag]]|year=1994|isbn=978-3-540-56391-4|editor-last=Bajaj|editor-first=Y. P. S.|series=Medicinal and Aromatic Plants|volume=VI|pages=[https://archive.org/details/medicinalaromati0006unse/page/46 46–55]|chapter=''Catharanthus roseus'' L. (Periwinkle): Production of Vindoline and Catharanthine in Multiple Shoot Cultures|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e64hCDBddowC&pg=PA47}}</ref> The newer [[semisynthesis|semi-synthetic]] chemotherapeutic agent [[vinorelbine]], used in the treatment of [[non-small-cell lung cancer]],<ref name="MoleculesReview" /><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Faller|first1=Bryan A.|last2=Pandi|first2=Trailokya N.|year=2011|title=Safety and efficacy of vinorelbine in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer|journal=[[Clinical Medicine Insights: Oncology]]|volume=5|pages=131–144|doi=10.4137/CMO.S5074|pmc=3117629|pmid=21695100}}</ref> can be prepared either from vindoline and catharanthine<ref name="MoleculesReview" /><ref name="anhydro2vinorelbine">{{cite journal|last1=Ngo|first1=Quoc Anh|last2=Roussi|first2=Fanny|last3=Cormier|first3=Anthony|last4=Thoret|first4=Sylviane|last5=Knossow|first5=Marcel|last6=Guénard|first6=Daniel|last7=Guéritte|first7=Françoise|year=2009|title=Synthesis and biological evaluation of ''Vinca alkaloids'' and phomopsin hybrids|journal=[[Journal of Medicinal Chemistry]]|volume=52|issue=1|pages=134–142|doi=10.1021/jm801064y|pmid=19072542}}</ref> or from the ''vinca'' alkaloid [[leurosine]],<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hardouin|first1=Christophe|last2=Doris|first2=Eric|last3=Rousseau|first3=Bernard|last4=Mioskowski|first4=Charles|year=2002|title=Concise synthesis of anhydrovinblastine from leurosine|journal=[[Organic Letters]]|volume=4|issue=7|pages=1151–1153|doi=10.1021/ol025560c|pmid=11922805}}</ref> in both cases via [[anhydrovinblastine]].<ref name="anhydro2vinorelbine" /> The insulin-stimulating [[vincoline]] has been isolated from the plant.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Aynilian|first1=GH|last2=Weiss|first2=SG|last3=Cordell|first3=GA|last4=Abraham|first4=DJ|last5=Crane|first5=FA|last6=Farnsworth|first6=NR|year=1974|title=Catharanthus alkaloids. XXIX. Isolation and structure elucidation of vincoline|journal=Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences|volume=63|issue=4|pages=536–8|doi=10.1002/jps.2600630409|pmid=4828700}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Yao|first1=XG|last2=Chen|first2=F|last3=Li|first3=P|last4=Quan|first4=L|last5=Chen|first5=J|last6=Yu|first6=L|last7=Ding|first7=H|last8=Li|first8=C|last9=Chen|first9=L|last10=Gao|first10=Z|last11=Wan|first11=P|year=2013|title=Natural product vindoline stimulates insulin secretion and efficiently ameliorates glucose homeostasis in diabetic murine models|journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology|volume=150|issue=1|pages=285–97|doi=10.1016/j.jep.2013.08.043|pmid=24012527|first12=L|last13=Jiang|first13=H|last14=Shen|first14=X|last12=Hu}}</ref>[[File:A Catharanthus Roseus bush in Hyderabad, Pakistan.jpg|thumb|right|A periwinkle shrub]]
[[File:Catharanthus roseus 82.jpg | frameless | 220x124px | right | alt= Dark pink colour ]]

=== Research ===
Despite the medical importance and wide use, the desired [[alkaloid]]s (vinblastine and vincristine) are naturally produced at very low yields. Additionally, it is complex and costly to synthesize the desired products in a lab, resulting in difficulty satisfying the demand and a need for overproduction.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Pan|first1=Qifang|last2=Wang|first2=Chenyi|last3=Xiong|first3=Zhiwei|last4=Wang|first4=Hang|last5=Fu|first5=Xueqing|last6=Shen|first6=Qian|last7=Peng|first7=Bowen|last8=Ma|first8=Yanan|last9=Sun|first9=Xiaofen|last10=Tang|first10=Kexuan|date=2019-07-18|title=CrERF5, an AP2/ERF Transcription Factor, Positively Regulates the Biosynthesis of Bisindole Alkaloids and Their Precursors in Catharanthus roseus|journal=Frontiers in Plant Science|volume=10|page=931|doi=10.3389/fpls.2019.00931|pmid=31379908|pmc=6657538|issn=1664-462X|doi-access=free}}</ref> Treatment of the plant with [[phytohormones]], such as [[salicylic acid]]<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=ABABAF|first1=M|last2=OMIDI|first2=H|last3=BAKHSHANDEH|first3=A M|title=Germination Indices and Antioxidant Activity Enzyme Responses of Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus Roseus (L.) G. Don) Under Pretreatment by Salicylic Acid|date=2019|journal=Applied Ecology and Environmental Research|volume=17|issue=2|pages=3989–4005|doi=10.15666/aeer/1702_39894005|issn=1589-1623|doi-access=free}}</ref> and [[methyl jasmonate]],<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Khataee|first1=Elham|last2=Karimi|first2=Farah|last3=Razavi|first3=Khadijeh|date=2021|title=Different carbon sources and their concentrations change alkaloid production and gene expression in Catharanthus roseus shoots in vitro|url=http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=FP19254|journal=Functional Plant Biology|language=en|volume=48|issue=1|pages=40–53|doi=10.1071/FP19254|pmid=32690131|s2cid=220670971 |issn=1445-4408|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Fraser|first1=Valerie N.|last2=Philmus|first2=Benjamin|last3=Megraw|first3=Molly|date=September 2020|title=Metabolomics analysis reveals both plant variety and choice of hormone treatment modulate vinca alkaloid production in Catharanthus roseus|journal=Plant Direct|language=en|volume=4|issue=9|pages=e00267|doi=10.1002/pld3.267|pmid=33005857|pmc=7520646|issn=2475-4455|doi-access=free}}</ref> have been shown to trigger defense mechanisms and overproduce downstream alkaloids. Studies using this technique vary in growth conditions, choice of phytohormone, and location of treatment. Concurrently, there are various efforts to map the biosynthetic pathway producing the alkaloids to find a direct path to overproduction via [[genetic engineering]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Singh|first1=Sanjay Kumar|last2=Patra|first2=Barunava|last3=Paul|first3=Priyanka|last4=Liu|first4=Yongliang|last5=Pattanaik|first5=Sitakanta|last6=Yuan|first6=Ling|date=April 2020|title=Revisiting the ORCA gene cluster that regulates terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis in Catharanthus roseus|journal=Plant Science|volume=293|article-number=110408|doi=10.1016/j.plantsci.2020.110408|pmid=32081258|bibcode=2020PlnSc.29310408S |s2cid=211231123 |issn=0168-9452}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Mortensen|first1=Samuel|last2=Weaver|first2=Jessica D.|last3=Sathitloetsakun|first3=Suphinya|last4=Cole|first4=Lauren F.|last5=Rizvi|first5=Noreen F.|last6=Cram|first6=Erin J.|last7=Lee-Parsons|first7=Carolyn W. T.|date=December 2019|title=The regulation of ZCT1, a transcriptional repressor of monoterpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthetic genes in Catharanthus roseus|journal=Plant Direct|language=en|volume=3|issue=12|pages=e00193|doi=10.1002/pld3.193|pmid=31909362|pmc=6937483|issn=2475-4455|doi-access=free}}</ref>

''C. roseus'' is used in [[plant pathology]] as an experimental [[host (biology)|host]] for [[phytoplasma]]s.<ref>{{cite journal | first1 = C. | last1 = Marcone | first2 = A. | last2 = Ragozzino | first3 = E. | last3 = Seemuller | year = 1997 | title = Dodder transmission of alder yellows phytoplasma to the experimental host ''Catharanthus roseus'' (periwinkle) | journal = [[Forest Pathology (journal)|Forest Pathology]] | volume = 27 | issue = 6 | pages = 347–350 | doi = 10.1111/j.1439-0329.1997.tb01449.x}}</ref> This is because it is easy to infect with a large majority of phytoplasmas, and also often has very distinctive symptoms such as [[phyllody]] and significantly reduced leaf size.<ref>{{cite journal | first = Chung-Jan | last = Chang | title = Pathogenicity of Aster Yellows Phytoplasma and ''Spiroplasma citri'' on Periwinkle | journal = [[Phytopathology (journal)|Phytopathology]] | volume = 88 | issue = 12 | year = 1998 | pages = 1347–1350 | doi = 10.1094/PHYTO.1998.88.12.1347 | pmid = 18944838 | doi-access = free}}</ref>

In 1995 and 2006 Malagasy [[agronomists]] and American [[political ecologists]] studied the production of Catharanthus roseus around [[Fort Dauphin_(Madagascar)|Fort Dauphin]] and [[Ambovombe-Androy|Ambovombe]] and its export as a natural source of the alkaloids used to make [[vincristine]], [[vinblastine]] and other [[vinca alkaloid]] cancer drugs. Their research focused on the wild collection of periwinkle roots and leaves from roadsides and fields and its industrial cultivation on large farms.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Andriamanalintsoa |first1=Jean Joseph |title=Contribution a l'etude de la producition de la pervenche de Madagascar ou Catharanthus roseus, Cas d' Ambovombe, d'Amboasary-sud, de Beloha et Tsihombe |date=1995 |publisher=Universityersité d'Antananarivo, Ecole Superieur des Sciences Agronomiques |location=Antananarivo, Madagascar |language=French |format=PhD Dissertation| url=http://madadoc.irenala.edu.mg/documents/v4312_MEM%2012099.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Neimark |first1=Benjamin |title=Industrial Heartlands of Nature: The Political Economy of Biological Prospecting in Madagascar |date=2009 |publisher=Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey |location=New Brunswick |page=70-112 |url=https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3WD40Q7 |language=English |format=PhD Dissertation |chapter=At the "Pharm" gate: The case study of the rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)|doi=10.7282/T3WD40Q7 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Neimark |first1=Ben |title=Green grabbing at the 'pharm' gate: rosy periwinkle production in southern Madagascar |journal=The Journal of Peasant Studies |date=2012 |volume=39 |issue=2 |page=423-445 |doi=10.1080/03066150.2012.666975 |s2cid=153584071 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/citedby/10.1080/03066150.2012.666975?scroll=top&needAccess=true&role=tab |access-date=14 July 2023|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

== Biology ==
[[Rosinidin]] is the pink anthocyanidin pigment found in the flowers of ''C. roseus''.<ref>{{cite journal|last1 = Toki|first1 = Kenjiro|last2 = Saito|first2 = Norio|last3 = Irie|first3 = Yuki|last4 = Tatsuzawa|first4 = Fumi|last5 = Shigihara|first5 = Atsushi|last6 = Honda|first6 = Toshio|title = 7-''O''-Methylated anthocyanidin glycosides from ''Catharanthus roseus''|journal = [[Phytochemistry (journal)|Phytochemistry]]|volume = 69|issue = 5|pages = 1215–1219|year = 2008|pmid = 18164044|doi = 10.1016/j.phytochem.2007.11.005| bibcode=2008PChem..69.1215T }}</ref> [[Lochnericine]] is a major alkaloid in roots.<ref name="tabersonine_doi">{{cite web |url=http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/177/4/1473 |title=American Society of Plant Biologists |publisher=August 2018 }}</ref>

== Toxicity ==
''C. roseus'' can be extremely toxic if consumed orally by humans, and is cited (under its synonym ''Vinca rosea'') in the [[Louisiana State Act 159]]. All parts of the plant are poisonous. On consumption, symptoms consist of mild stomach cramps, cardiac complications, [[hypotension]], systematic paralysis eventually leading to death.<ref>{{cite web|title=Is Periwinkle Plant Poisonous or Toxic?|date=9 June 2020 |url=https://plantcaretoday.com/periwinkle-plant-poisonous.html}}</ref>

According to French botanist [[Pierre Boiteau]], its poisonous properties are made known along generations of [[Malagasy people]] as a poison consumed in [[tangena|ordeal trials]], even before the [[Cerbera manghas|tangena fruit]] was used. This lent the flower one of its names ''vonenina'', from {{langx|mg|vony enina}} meaning "flower of remorse".<ref name=Boiteau>{{Cite dictionary|url=https://en.mondemalgache.org/bins/teny2/vonenina|title=vonenina|first1=Pierre|last1=Boiteau|dictionary=Dictionnaire des noms malgaches de végétaux|language=fr|date=1999|publisher=Editions Alzieu|volume=IV|via=Malagasy Dictionary and Malagasy Encyclopedia|access-date=2022-11-01|archive-date=2022-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101233210/https://en.mondemalgache.org/bins/teny2/vonenina}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery widths="300" heights="300">
File:Madagascar periwinkle bdl8.jpg|Deep-red ''Catharanthus roseus''
File:Catharanthus roseus grown in a balcony.jpg|This one was grown in Bangladesh as an ornamental plant in a flower tub in the balcony of a house
File:Madagascar periwinkle bdl2.jpg|Off-white ''Catharanthus roseus''
File:Madagascar periwinkle bdl1.jpg|White with red-centered ''Catharanthus roseus''
File:Madagascar periwinkle bdl0.jpg|Red ''Catharanthus roseus''
File:Catharanthus roseus Madagascar periwinkle White.JPG|White periwinkle with thin petals
File:Catharanthus roseus in Kerala.jpeg|Catharanthus roseus in Kerala
File:Madagascar periwinkle bdl.jpg|Purple ''Catharanthus roseus''
File:Vinca Catharanthus roseus in Bangladesh.JPG|''Periwinkle'' From a garden at [[Cox's Bazar]], Bangladesh
File:Rose Periwinkle.jpg|Catharanthus roseus in [[Ishwardi]], Bangladesh
File:Catharanthus roseus flower bud, Burdwan, West Bengal, India 12 09 2012.JPG|Flower bud in [[West Bengal]], India
File:Nithyaklalyani.jpg|Periwinkle Plant in India
File:Nayantara.jpg|Common periwinkle plant in India
File:Catharanthus roseus-1.jpg|Catharanthus roseus in Pakistan
File:Catharanthus roseus at FELDA Sungai Sayong, Johor 20250401 130424.jpg|Grown in Malaysia
File:Nithyakalyani India.jpg|Flower plant raised in India temples
File:Catharanthus roseus MHNT.BOT.2005.0962.jpg|Seed pod and seeds
File:Matured seeds of Madagascar Periwinkle.jpg|Matured fruits of Madagascar Periwinkle
File:Immature seeds of Madagascar periwinkle.jpg|Immature fruits of Madagascar periwinkle
File:Catharanthus roseus Pacifica Burgundy Halo-Madagascar Periwinkle.JPG|Pacifica Burgundy Halo – Madagascar Periwinkle
File:Catharanthus roseus-Red flowers of Madagascar Periwinkle 2.JPG|Red cultivar of Madagascar Periwinkle
File:Catharanthus Periwinkle.jpg|Potted Plant in [[New Delhi]]
File:Pollens of Catharanthus roseus.jpg|Seeds
File:Madagascar Periwinkle white.jpg|A fully bloomed white plant
File:Catharanthus roseus24 08 2012 (1).JPG
File:Periwinkle1.jpg|A rare '''mutation''' of Periwinkle flower which causes an additional petal(6), found in [[Chandannagar]]
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-51620-2_7

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Catharanthus roseus|''Catharanthus roseus''}}
* {{Wikispecies-inline|Catharanthus roseus|''Catharanthus roseus''}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q161093}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Catharanthus|roseus]]
[[Category:Endemic flora of Madagascar]]
[[Category:Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1759]]

Catharanthus roseus - Revision history

A.RAHMAN at 01:08, 11 February 2026