Well known in the hole ireland of Madagascaras a medicinal plant t, "Voenina" = Periwinkle found its way from Madagascar to the French royal court during the 17th century as an ornamental plant.
Used by sailors to fight diabetes and to lower appetite, doctors began research against diabetes it in the 1950s. They discovered that the injections drastically reduced the number of white blood cells, and the idea and hope of using them to fight leukemia was born
Scientific research has isolated between 150 interesting alkaloids in the upper parts of plants, including vincristine (for leukemia) and vinblastine (for Hodchkin's disease).
Unfortunately, the extraction was not profitable, as it takes 1 ton of periwinkle to obtain 3-10 grams of vincristine, a complication that has slowed down research.
30 years later, science succeeds in synthesizing one alkaloid and in 1989 the first French anti-tumor drug, "Navelbine", has been marketed .
Classical medicine is interested in isolating molecules to synthesize them, but in Naturopathy it is the synergy of all the molecules that supports the body to regulate its functions.
Healing effects of the root and aerial parts
In Madagascar, this plant continues to be used, and I think that 150 alkaloids and other substances could act synergistically in a non-traumatic way.
The root contains Ursolic Acid tannins, (anti-inflammatory and protective of muscle mass after the age of 45 years) Lupeola (antiparasitic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiparasitic) and beta-amyrin. These are triterpenoids.
A pharmacological study has shown that the root lowers blood pressure when due, for example, to contraction of the smooth muscles caused by stress (an effect called sympatholytic or adrenolytic). As previously mentioned, this effect is found more in the root than in the stem and upper parts of the plant. The root is also a good anthelmintic and, in small doses, antispasmodic.
The antidiabetic effect of the upper parts of the plant has been confirmed, but only in the case of hyperglycemia due to excessive glucose absorption, but not when the pancreas has completely lost its ability to produce insulin.
The traditional application:
Internal :
High blood pressure:
Boil 5 g root powder in 150 ml water for 10 minutes. . Filter and drink on an empty stomach in the morning. Regularly control blood pressure.
Diabetes:
Boil 30 g of leaves in 1 liter of water. Drink during the day;
External :
The decoction of the aerial parts is used for gargling in case of oral candidosis and for washing wounds, the decoction of the flowers for washing the eyes in case of conjunctivitis,
Contraindication :
Pregnant, lactating women and babies when used internally In form of herbal tea in decoction, it has very little toxicity.
Bibliography :
https://dumas.ccsd.cnrs.fr/dumas-02021373
La pervenche de Madagascar (Catharanthus roseus) | [Books of] Dante
https://vivredemain.fr/2014/10/20/pervenche-de-madagascar-plante-endemique-mille-vertus/
https://docnum.univ-lorraine.fr/public/SCDPHA_T_2009_HANNEWALD_PAUL.pdf
https://www.persee.fr/doc/jatba_0021-7662_1958_num_5_1_2453
