APOCYNACEAE
A Dicotyledon family of about 130 genera of herbs, shrubs and trees, some poisonous and/or with milky juice. Distribution world wide but Vinca is the only genus native to Europe. It is often used as an ornamental ground cover, and there are varieties with pink, purple and/or white flowers, some double.
Vinca major
Greater periwinkle
Family Apocynaceae
Description
A robust perennial trailing plant spreading 1–2 m with herbaceous stems rooting at the tips. Leaves 2–4 cm, dark shining green, oval with a rounded or heart-shaped base and a finely hairy margin. Flowers large, axillary, solitary, blue, 4–5 cm across, corolla lobes blunt, radially asymmetrical, calyx linear and hairy. Stamens fused to the corolla tube. Stigma enlarged above with a tuft of hair at the apex. (If the flower is pulled apart and the stigma detached it looks like a tiny ice cream cone.) Blooms from mid spring to summer.
Habitat and cultivation
Native to Mediterranean Europe and introduced elsewhere, Vinca major grows in woods, along hedges and stream banks. It is cultivated in gardens and shrubberies as an ornamental ground cover, and often naturalised.
Parts used
The leaves, harvested when the plant is in flower.
Active constituents
1) Alkaloids of the indole type, at least 40 have been isolated including majdine, isomajdine, majoridine, reserpinine (pubescine), vincamajoridine and vincamajoreine1–6
2) Tannins
3) Flavonoids including a derivative of kaempferol7
Also cholorgenic and ursolic acids, robinin and saponins.6 Tannins were not detected in one analysis.6
Actions
1) Antihaemorrhagic
2) Astringent
Scientific information
There has been very little investigation of this herb and much of what exists was carried out some time ago.
Since the discovery of the indole alkaloids vincristine and vinblastine (found in Catharanthus roseus, formerly Vinca rosea), which are used in the treatment of cancer, other Vinca species have been analysed for their cytotoxic potential. V. major has not been found useful in this context.
The use of V. major is less well studied than that of V. minor. It seems to have been used traditionally for its tannin dependent actions.
Medicinal uses
Gastro-intestinal tract
- diarrhoea
- bleeding haemorrhoids
Urinary tract
- enuresis
Reproductive tract
- menorrhagia
- leucorrhoea
Externally
- haemorrhoids
- mouth ulcers
- sore throat
- epistaxis
Pharmacy
| Three times daily | |
| Infusion | – 2–4 g |
| Fluid extract (25%) | – 2–4 ml |
Precautions and/or safety
V. major may aggravate constipation due to its tendency to “bind” and should not be used if this is a problem, however the fresh flowers were considered a gentle laxative (Grieve).
Historical uses
The English name “periwinkle” is derived from the Latin “to bind” because the long runners of the plant were plaited into wreaths and used as string. Known as Sorcerer's Violet used as plant of love and fertility; associated with death and immortality; to treat hysteria, fits, diabetes. Externally for cramps.
Vinca minor
Lesser periwinkle
Family Apocynaceae
Description
A similar but smaller perennial with trailing stems 30–60 cm long, rooting at the nodes. Leaves opposite, dark glossy green, glabrous. Flowers regular, solitary, axillary. Corolla purplish blue, mauve or white, with a conical tube and 5 asymmetrical lobes. Does not often set seed. Blooms early spring to summer.
Habitat and cultivation
Similar to that of V. major. Growing as a ground cover in woods, hedgerows and stream banks it is easily propagated by planting rooted runners.
Parts used
The leaves, harvested when the plant is in flower.
Active constituents
1) Alkaloids
a) indole type including vincine, apovincamine, vincamine and many others8–13
b) bisindole alkaloids including vincarubine14
2) Flavonoids including kaempferol, quercetin and isorhamnetin15
3) Tannins
Also a lignan,16 ursolic acid,17 ornol,18 β-sitosterol18 and triacontane.18
Actions
1) Antihaemorrhagic
2) Astringent
Scientific information
As is the case for V. major there has been very little recent investigation into this herb. There is evidence accumulating to support this species’ action as a circulatory stimulant, although it is largely based on the isolated alkaloids.
In vivo—The alkaloid vincamine and a synthetic derivative of apovincamine have been used in patients with dementias, they show potential in improving cognitive function.19,20 Vincamine improved cerebral blood flow and brain metabolism,21 may be hypotensive22 and improved recovery of stroke patients when used in the acute phase.23
Extrapolating the actions of the whole plant to those of the isolated alkaloids is speculative although mediaeval uses for V. minor indicate that the whole plant has an action on cerebral circulation.
Further evidence is required to confirm the efficacy of V. minor for uses other than those for which V. major is used.
Medicinal uses
Cardiovascular system
Based on the studies of the isolated alkaloid, may find a use in the future treatment of:
- hypertension
- cerebral arteriosclerosis
Nervous system
Based on the studies of the isolated alkaloid, may find a use in the future treatment of:
- impaired memory
- brain injury
- vertigo
- Ménière's disease
- headaches
- tinnitus
- strokes
Pharmacy
| Three times daily | |
| Infusion | – 2–4 g |
| Fluid extract (25%) | – 2–4 ml |
Treatment with vincamine may take between 3–6 weeks to show results (Weiss).
Precautions and/or safety
As for V. major. On the basis of studies on vincamine it may be assumed that V. minor should not be used in cases of brain tumour or where intracranial pressure is raised. Vincamine is considered safe and well tolerated although Weiss mentions mild and reversible gastro-intestinal symptoms are possible.
Historical uses
Headaches, vertigo, to aid the memory.