Vinca rosea, also known as Catharanthus roseus, Madagascar periwinkle, or Sadabahar in Hindi, is a flowering plant native to Madagascar but now widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. It belongs to the Apocynaceae family and is valued both for its ornamental beauty and powerful medicinal properties.

The plant is a perennial herb or subshrub that grows up to 1 meter tall, with glossy, dark green leaves and attractive pink, white, or purple flowers that bloom throughout the year—hence the name Sadabahar, meaning “ever-blooming.” It is drought-tolerant and commonly found in gardens, roadsides, and herbal landscapes.

Vinca rosea is best known for its significant role in modern medicine due to its production of powerful alkaloids, especially vincristine and vinblastine—chemotherapeutic agents used to treat various cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, and breast cancer. In traditional medicine, it has also been used to manage diabetes, high blood pressure, and infections, although its use must be approached with caution due to the potency of its active compounds.

Today, Catharanthus roseus is considered a vital plant in both pharmaceutical research and traditional healing, bridging the gap between natural remedies and modern drug development.

Family Name: APOCYNACEAE

Botanical Name: VINCA ROSEA

Common Name: PERIWINKLE, MADAGASCAR PERIWINKLE, SADABAHAR

Part Used: LEAVES, ROOTS

Habitat: Grows throughout India and found as an escape in waste places and sandy tracts.

Uses: Its alkaloids are Hypotensive, sedative and have tranquilising properties and are anti cancerous. It helps in relieving muscle pain, depression of central nervous system and wasps stings.