Class: Magnoliopsida

Catharanthus roseus (synonymous with Vinca rosea) is a perennial plant commonly seen in tropical countries. Seven species of this genus are native to Madagascar and one species is native to Southern Asia.1 It is more commonly known as Madagascar periwinkle. The local name in Malaysia is Kemunting Cina. The National Cancer Council of Malaysia (Majlis Kanser Nasional, MAKNA) uses the periwinkle logo as its symbol of hope for cancer patients.2 This plant produces beautiful flowers with a variety of colours such as purple, pink and white and commonly planted for decorative purposes. Historically Madagascar periwinkle had been used for various treatments, e.g. diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure and infection.3 The stem of Madagascar periwinkle produced a milky sap which is the source of over 70 different indole alkaloids. Tw