Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 5

Greater Periwinkle (Vinca major), closely related to the Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), is notable because it contains vinca alkaloids. These alkaloids, including vincristine and vinblastine, were originally isolated from periwinkle species and have been developed into highly effective chemotherapeutic agents. Specifically, vincristine and vinblastine are used as standard treatments for certain types of leukemia, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The scientific validation is robust: vinca alkaloids disrupt microtubule formation in dividing cells, effectively inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. Multiple clinical trials and decades of clinical use have established their efficacy and safety profiles. While raw plant extracts are not used due to toxicity and dose inconsistency, purified and standardized forms of these alkaloids, synthesized or extracted from periwinkle, are essential in modern oncology.

It is important to note that while the plant itself has traditional uses for various ailments, its role in leukemia therapy is entirely grounded in scientific discovery and pharmaceutical development, not in ethnomedicine. Thus, the use of vinca alkaloids derived from periwinkle in leukemia is one of the clearest examples of a plant-based compound leading to a validated and life-saving medical treatment.

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