Infusion or Tincture of Periwinkle for Cancer

[LivStudent]

Apologies as I am new here and trying to find my way around. I tried to ask Herbert but when I click on “Ask Herbert” it takes me back to the Home page… SO I thought I would try here. I live in Kenya and there is a TON of Madagascar Periwinkle  (Cantharanthus Roseus)growing everywhere here (indigenous  to Madagascar). A friend of mine may have cancer and while he is deciding what to do for treatment I was going to go ahead and make some tincture from the Periwinkle or even tea till the tincture is done. There is very little info online about it even though the active consituents ahve been isolated and  has been used for years …(2018?)  as a chemotherapy.

Just wondering if anyone knows if the an infusion would be made with the leaves or roots? I have read all parts can be used but the leaves and stems may have the highest quantities of medicine but not a lot of info on this.  Also any advice on making the tincture? I have seen lots of images of people using the flowers too. So it is not clear. Any advice or videos or studies would be greatly appreciated!

Kindly from Kenya,

Olivia

[Sherry HawkinsStudent]

Hi Olivia:

I am new here too, tonight is the first time I’ve checked out the Forum, and have recently started the HGH Course, but have been dabbling in medicinal herbs for a few years.  I’ve checked a few of my herbal medicine books, but the only Periwinkle they discuss is Vinca Minor, and I have been unable to find anything on Cantharanthus Roseus.  I will keep looking and let you know if I find anything on Madagascar Periwinkle.  What are the active constituents that have been isolated and used as chemotherapy?

Nice to chat with you, good luck with your research to try and help your friend,

Sherry from BC Canada

[LivStudentTopic Author]

Hi Sherry,

Here is an excerpt from an article I read, “The humble Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) produces two potent alkaloids, vinblastine and vincristine, which are used to treat various cancers. The little plant’s mighty biosynthetic feat involves more than 30 chemical steps. Now, researchers have provided the first complete picture of the alkaloids’ synthesis (Science 2018, DOI: 10.1126/science.aat4100). A decades-long mystery centered on how the periwinkle transforms stemmadenine acetate into tabersonine and catharanthine, which ultimately couple to make the cancer-fighting compounds.

I have heard that it can fight cancer as an herbal. I wish I understood the context of this compared to just using the leaves and stems to make a tincture and if these compounds are water or alcohol soluble . I cant find anything! Thanks for chiming in!!

I have almost a whole hedge of it growing in my garden.

Let me know if you find anything!

Kindly,

Liv

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