PINK PERIWINKLE

PINK PERIWINKLE is considered a weed by Australian authorities and eradication guidelines are readily available.  In reality, it’s just as much a new migrant as the invasive “white man” and holds high medicinal value.  The juice of fresh leaves displays antidiabetic activity by reducing blood glucose [1], the flower extract has wound-healing activity [2] & it’s vinca alkaloids (obtained via acid-base extraction) are used in cancer treatment [3] .  For these reasons, it is considered a high value plant within the pharmaceutical industry.  Next time you walk past it in your garden, give it a ‘wink’ or better yet – “thank you”.  And remember where it’s growing in case you need to use it’s medicinal gifts….not just another pretty flower at all!

References:

1. Nammi, S., et al., The juice of fresh leaves of Catharanthus roseus Linn. reduces blood glucose in normal and alloxan diabetic rabbits. BMC complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2003. 3(1): p. 4.
2. Nayak, B. and L.M.P. Pereira, Catharanthus roseus flower extract has wound-healing activity in Sprague Dawley rats. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2006. 6(1): p. 41.
3. Roepke, J., et al., Vinca drug components accumulate exclusively in leaf exudates of Madagascar periwinkle. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2010. 107(34): p. 15287-15292.

About The Author

About The Author

Chrissy-Tiina Laurikainen

In person + online permaculture teacher. Online permaculture consultant. Upkeep of a 30 acre rural property (using permaculture & other agroecological techniques). A communal research laboratory focusing on free innovation in the works. Doing what I can to support LIFE on planet Earth!!

More From This Author