A Periwinkle and the Fight Against Cancer
The Madagascar Periwinkle is the source of a powerful molecule used to treat certain cancers.
This has been a hard couple of weeks. A loved one has been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Following rapid weight loss, exhaustion, unbalanced blood chemistry levels, and fluid accumulation in the lungs—the doctors’ decision to pursue another biopsy finally paid off, and we have a culprit to fight. And what a fight it will be.
The choice of medication will involve a cocktail of steroids, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy drugs. One of the medications to be used popped out to me: vincristine (brand name: Oncovin).
The plant source of Vincristine (scientific name: Catharanthus roseus in the Apocynaceae family; formerly named Vinca roseus) has a rich history in traditional medicine and folklore. This plant was once regarded as magical among Europeans, capable of warding off evil spirits. The French regarded it as the “sorcerers’ violet.”
This once “witchy” plant is now available in the landscaping section of your local hardware stores and plant nurseries. Its common English name is the Madagascar periwinkle or rosy periwinkle. I would hazard that few shoppers realize what a critical plant it is for medicine, as today, it is most appreciated for the beautiful splash of color it adds to yards and container gardens.
In this post, I provide a deeper dive into the history and medicinal utility of the Madagascar periwinkle.
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