Agricultural, pharmaceutical, and therapeutic interior of catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don

Abstract

Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus) (L.) G. Don known as Madagascar periwinkle (MP) is a popular ornamental plant found in gardens and homes across the world. C. roseus (L.) G. Don has been widely distributed for long enough and gained popularity as diverse application in medicinal uses for a variety of purposes such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anthelmintic, antifeedant, antisterility, antidiarrheal, and antidiabetic effect and have been used in the treatment of leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, malignant lymphomas, neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, Kaposi's sarcoma, and mycosis fungoides to improve cerebral blood flow and treat high blood pressure. The pharmacology of the plant was found to be associated mostly especially with the alkaloids that occupies almost all parts of the plant. C. roseus (L.) G. Don is a legendary medicinal plant mostly because of possessing two invaluable antitumor terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs), vincristine and vinblastine. The ethnobotanical significance of C. Roseus (L.) G. Don is exemplified by its international usage as a traditional remedy for abundant ailments and not only for cancer. TIAs are present only in micro quantities in the plant and are highly poisonous per se rendering a challenge for researchers to increase yield and reduce toxicity. Good agronomic practices ensure generous propagation of healthy plants that serve as a source of bioactive compounds and multitudinous horticultural applications. In this chapter, an attempt has been made to summarize the agricultural, pharmaceutical, and pharmacological applications in a precise way to help the scientists and learners to understand the basic values of the plant.