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| Figure 1: The vinca alkaloid vincristine from the periwinkle Catharanthus roseus. |
Periwinkle, the common ornamental plant, is highly toxic because of the chemical compounds it contains. One of these compounds is called vincristine - a compound that can prevent mammalian cells from dividing. This compound contains nitrogen atoms, making it an alkaloid. Vincristine and its sibling alkaloid, vinblastine, both inhibit cell division which makes them effective chemotheraputics. They are used to treat several types of cancer. For the plant, these compounds constitute a defense mechanism: if eaten in quantity, periwinkle leaves are highly toxic. So, even though the periwinkle is a pretty plant to look at - it's not good to eat!
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