A Review on Catharanthus roseus

Abstract

In world health care, medicinal plants have played crucial role. Catharanthus roseus commonly known as Cape periwinkle and belongs to Apocynaceae family. It is evergreen herbaceous species and native to but cultivated as a medicinal and ornamental plant species. It has a history of use in Ayurvediuc, Chinese and Western medicine research. The leaves are oval to broad, oblong, green, glossy and divided into opposite pairs and flowers have five petal-like lobes with coloured white to dark pink. It is commonly grown  as an ornamental plant but was used in traditional medicine for a long time.It containsvarious phytochemical constituets like vinblastine, vincristine, methylvingramine, catharanthine, vindoline, serpentine, rosinidin and lochnericine. It has anti-cancer effects, and is commonly used for diabetes care. This is a common ornamental plant in East Africa. This plant leaves have been used internally as antiseptic agents for wound healing. This plant rich in their pharmacological activities includes antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral and anticancer activates.