Red Periwinkle

Catharanthus roseus Linn.
Syn: Vinca rosea Linn.
Family: Apocynaceae

An erect, much-branched annual or perennial herb growing 30–90 cm in height. Probably native to Madagascar (Malagasy), occasionally found wild but mostly naturalized up to 1300 m altitude and commonly cultivated in gardens. Leaves oblong-elliptic, glossy and slightly foetid. Flowers white to pinkish-purple in terminal or axillary cymose clusters. Follicles hairy, 2–3 cm long, many seeded. Seeds minute, oblong and black.

Distribution:
Native to Madagascar and cultivated worldwide as ornamental bedding plant. Commercial cultivation occurs in Madagascar, Israel, India and the United States.

Vernacular Names:
Sanskrit: Sadapushpi
Hindi: Sadabahar, Sadasuhagan
Kannada: Kempukasi, Kanegale
Malayalam: Ushamalari
Tamil: Sudukadumallikai
Telugu: Billaganneru
Punjabi: Rattanjot

Varieties:
Based on flower colour:

1. Pink flowered – Rosea (higher alkaloid content)
2. White flowered – Alba
3. White with pink/yellow ring – Ocellata
CIMAP, Lucknow developed high-alkaloid varieties: Nirmal and Dhaval.

Agro-Climatic Requirements:
A hardy crop that grows under varied climatic and soil conditions except highly alkaline or waterlogged soils. Prefers light, well-drained sandy loam soil. Requires mild tropical climate with about 100 cm well-distributed annual rainfall for rainfed cultivation.

Cultivation:
Land is ploughed thoroughly and enriched with farmyard manure or compost. Groundnut cake may also be applied. Herbicides such as 2,4-D or Gramoxone may be used before planting to control weeds.

Propagation is through seeds or stem cuttings. Fresh seeds (1 kg/ha) are sown in nursery beds at onset of monsoon in late June. Seeds germinate in about 10 days and seedlings are ready for transplanting in 30–45 days. Direct sowing (2.5 kg/ha) mixed with sand is also practiced. Seedlings are transplanted at 30 × 45 cm spacing with approximately 74,000 plants per hectare.

Manure and Fertilizers:
Responds well to 80 kg nitrogen/ha in sandy soils; with detopping, up to 120 kg N/ha may be applied in split doses. Phosphorus and potash at 40 kg/ha each are recommended. Green manuring and micronutrient application are beneficial.

Intercultural Operations:
2–3 intercultures at 20–30 day intervals. Mulching with rice straw or grass improves growth. At early flowering stage, top 2–3 cm of plant is removed to promote vegetative growth and enhance alkaloid content. Drought resistant; irrigated crops require 5–6 light irrigations.

Plant Protection:
Relatively free from major pests. Termites and soil insects may attack seedlings; soil treatment with BHC (0.5%) recommended. Little-leaf disease managed by spraying tetracycline hydrochloride (100 ppm). Fungal diseases controlled by spraying Diethane Z-78.

Harvesting and Yield:
Roots penetrate 15–25 cm depth. Crop is ready for root harvest after one year. Two leaf strippings are taken before final harvest. For root harvest, plants are cut 7 cm above ground, field irrigated and ploughed, roots collected, washed, cut (15–20 cm) and dried. Drying reduces weight by 70–80%. Produce can be stored 1–2 years.

Yield:
Irrigated crop (Peninsular India): 2.2 tonnes/ha
North Indian plains: 1.8 tonnes/ha
Rainfed crop: 1.0–1.5 tonnes/ha

Inputs (Per Hectare):
Seeds: 2.5 kg
FYM: 5 tonnes
Fertilizers: N – 40 kg, P₂O₅ – 30 kg, K₂O – 30 kg

Parts Used:
Leaves, stem and roots.

Medicinal Uses:
Contains important alkaloids such as vinblastine, vincristine, leurosidine and leurosine with strong anti-cancer properties. Vinblastine sulphate is used in treatment of Hodgkin’s disease, lymphosarcoma, neuroblastoma, breast and lung cancers, and leukemias. Vincristine sulphate is effective in acute childhood leukemia and lymphocytic leukemias, Wilm’s tumor and other cancers. The plant also exhibits hypotensive, sedative, tranquilizing and antispasmodic properties and affects smooth muscle and central nervous system activity.