Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus (pronunciation: /kəˈθærənθəs ˈroʊziəs/), also known as the Madagascar periwinkle or rosy periwinkle, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae. It is native to Madagascar, but is grown worldwide as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical areas. It has several synonyms, including Vinca rosea (the basionym), Ammocallis rosea, and Lochnera rosea.
Etymology
The genus name Catharanthus comes from the Greek words 'katharos' meaning 'pure' and 'anthos' meaning 'flower', while the species name roseus is Latin for 'rosy'. The common name 'Madagascar periwinkle' refers to its place of origin and its flowers, which are often a rosy-pink color.
Description
Catharanthus roseus is a perennial herb that grows up to 1 meter in height. It has glossy, dark green leaves and flowers throughout the year in warm climates. The flowers are usually pink or white and have a distinctive 'eye' in the center.
Medical Uses
Catharanthus roseus has been used in traditional medicine for a variety of ailments, including diabetes, malaria, and Hodgkin's disease. Modern medicine has found that it contains two important anti-cancer compounds, vincristine and vinblastine, which are used in chemotherapy.
Related Terms
- Apocynaceae: The plant family to which Catharanthus roseus belongs.
- Vincristine: An anti-cancer compound found in Catharanthus roseus.
- Vinblastine: Another anti-cancer compound found in Catharanthus roseus.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Catharanthus roseus
- Wikipedia's article - Catharanthus roseus
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski