Rose Periwinkle

Rose periwinkle originates from Madagascar. Due to deforestation and the loss of natural habitats, the plant has today become rare in the wild. It is, however, cultivated in many parts of the world, both as a garden plant in tropical and subtropical regions and as a houseplant in cooler climates. In early spring it can be placed in a conservatory, and during the summer it thrives well in a pot on the terrace or planted directly in the garden.

From Rose periwinkle, two important medicinal compounds have been derived: vincristine and vinblastine, which are used in the treatment of a range of cancers, including lymphomas and childhood leukemia. These substances occur only in extremely small quantities in the plant; as much as several tons of plant material may be required to produce the amount of active compound needed for a single course of treatment.

Today, both vincristine and vinblastine are produced using semi-synthetic processes, in which precursor compounds are extracted from the plant and subsequently converted chemically. Both substances are listed on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) List of Essential Medicines.