CATHARANTHUS ROSEUS: ORNAMENTAL PLANT IS NOW MEDICINAL BOUTIQUE

India possesses a rich biodiversity of the medicinal plants that were still not explored completely. Catharanthus roseus is native to the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar. This herb is now common in many tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including the southern United States. It is a popular ornamental plant found in gardens and homes across the warmer parts of the world. The need for the novel pharmaceutical products out from the plant has attained a great interest in the present research world due to the cost and the higher side effects that are associated with the chemically manufactured drugs. Catharanthus roseus, which is a potent medicinal plant many of the pharmacological actions. That is used to treat many of the fatal diseases. Alkaloids were the major phytochemical constituent of the above medicinal plant and have different types possessing various medicinal uses. This review highlights the marvelous properties of this plant. Key words: periwinkle, vinca, alkaloids, catharanthus, Madagascar