Catharanthus

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Catharanthus

Catharanthus (pronounced: kuh-thuh-RAN-thus) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae. The name Catharanthus comes from the Greek words 'katharos' meaning pure and 'anthos' meaning flower.

Etymology

The name Catharanthus is derived from the Greek words 'katharos' meaning pure and 'anthos' meaning flower. This is in reference to the plant's pure, unblemished flowers.

Description

Catharanthus plants are small, perennial herbs with oppositely arranged leaves. The flowers are usually pink or white and have a characteristic 'pinwheel' shape formed by the overlapping petals. The plants are native to Madagascar but have been introduced to other tropical and subtropical regions around the world.

Species

There are eight recognized species in the Catharanthus genus. The most well-known species is Catharanthus roseus, commonly known as the Madagascar periwinkle or rosy periwinkle. Other species include Catharanthus trichophyllus, Catharanthus ovalis, and Catharanthus longifolius.

Medical Uses

Catharanthus roseus is particularly noted for its medicinal properties. The plant contains over 100 alkaloids, some of which have been used in the treatment of cancer. Two of these alkaloids, vincristine and vinblastine, are used in chemotherapy treatments for leukemia and Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Related Terms

  • Apocynaceae: The plant family to which Catharanthus belongs.
  • Alkaloid: A class of naturally occurring organic compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms.
  • Chemotherapy: A type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs as part of a standardized chemotherapy regimen.
  • Leukemia: A group of cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal white blood cells.
  • Hodgkin's lymphoma: A type of lymphoma in which cancer originates from a specific type of white blood cells called lymphocytes.

External links

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