Madagascar periwinkle and Pacific yew Lizz Cuzzacrea

Madagascar periwinkle Scientific name : Catharanthus roseus Common and other names: Rose Periwinkle, Periwinkle, Vinca, Old-Maid, Ammocallis rosea, Cape Periwinkle, Chang Chu Hua, Church-Flower, Lochnera rosea, Magdalena, Myrtle, Pervenche de Madagascar, Ram-Goat Rose, Ratanjot, Red Periwinkle Used to be known as Vinca rosea

Classification Kingdom Plantae – PlantsPlantae Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plantsTracheobionta Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plantsSpermatophyta Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plantsMagnoliophyta Class Magnoliopsida – DicotyledonsMagnoliopsida Subclass AsteridaeAsteridae Order GentianalesGentianales Family Apocynaceae – Dogbane familyApocynaceae Genus Catharanthus G. Don – periwinkleCatharanthus G. Don Species Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don – Madagascar periwinkleCatharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don

Origin : Madagascar Cultivated throughout the tropics and subtropics Grown commercially for its medicinal uses

Seeds

Weed or invasive plant Perennial and annual Leaves - glossy, green, oval Height - ~10 in Flowers - pink, rose, or white Sun exposure - direct light or sun Soil - no rich soils Drought-tolerant Humidity/ temperature – moderate humidity and average temps. Poisonous

Medicinal Uses …before modern research India - wasp sting Hawaii - stop bleeding Central America and parts of South America - sore throats, chest disorders, and laryngitis Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and other islands - eyewash Africa - menorrhagia and rheumatism Surinamese - diabetes Bahamas, Vietnam, Curacao and Bermuda

Scientific Research Began in mid-1950’s World War II Found several toxic alkaloids Two anti-cancer alkaloids: vinblastine and vincristine

Vinblastine and Vincristine Dr. Gordon Svoboda with Lilly Corporation Velban and Oncovin Hodgkin’s disease and leukemia Prognosis Synthetic versions

How the alkaloids work… Prevents mitosis Bind to tubulin Prevents formation of spindles

Threat and Conservation Madagascar forests Widely established Grown commercially Direct conservation is low priority Powerful medicinal plant

Pacific yew Scientific name : Taxus brevifolia Common and other names: Western yew 7 species worldwide

Classification Kingdom Plantae – PlantsPlantae Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plantsTracheobionta Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plantsSpermatophyta Division Coniferophyta – ConifersConiferophyta Class PinopsidaPinopsida Order TaxalesTaxales Family Taxaceae – Yew familyTaxaceae Genus Taxus L. – yewTaxus L. Species Taxus brevifolia Nutt. – Pacific yewTaxus brevifolia Nutt.

Origin : Pacific Coast of North America Southern Oregon and northern California Southeast Alaska Idaho

Seeds

Perennial Climate - range moisture and temperatures Soil - deep, moist, rich Slow growth In situ Wood - hard and heavy Flowering/fruiting - dioecious Damaging agents - heat, frost, wind Adaptation - needle length and cuticle thickness Poisonous - alkaloid taxine

Wide variety of uses …before modern research Archery bows Canoe paddles Tool handles Gunstocks Boat decking Furniture Musical instruments Carved figurines Fence posts Toko poles Native tribes

Scientific research 1962 – Arthur Barclay collects Pacific yew stem, bark, and fruit 1964 – More bark collected and sent to Monroe Wall 1966 – Taxol is isolated from bark 1971 – Molecular structure is published 1979 – Susan Horowitz – National Cancer Institure and Bristol-Myers Squibb

Pacilitaxel Taxol Structure Prognosis Semisynthesis

How it works… Prevents replication Binds to microtubules Inhibits depolymerization Inhibits breakdown of mitotic spindle Cancer can’t spread

Threat and conservation Slow growth Bark is thin Many trees to treat one patient Other species Overharvesting Yew bug mite Finite resource Continue research

References Cancerbusters. (n.d.). Retrieved January 2011, from Catharanthus roseus. (n.d.). Retrieved January 2011, from Floridata: Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle). (n.d.). Retrieved January 2011, from Kew: Catharanthus roseus. (2011). Retrieved January 2011, from National Tropical Botanical Garden: Chemotherapy Drugs. (2005). Retrieved January 2011, from Chemocare: Fighting Ovarian Cancer From The Forest. (n.d.). Retrieved January 2011, from Madagascar Periwinkle. (n.d.). Retrieved January 2011, from RxList: Madagascar Periwinkle. (n.d.). Retrieved January 2011, from Suite101: Madagascar Periwinkle Flower. ( ). Retrieved January 2011, from Guide To Houseplants: Maximizing Returns. (2003, September 15). Retrieved January 2011, from Chemical & Engineering News: Murray, M. D. (1991). The tree that fights cancer - Pacific yew. Retrieved January 2011, from BNet:

Ombrello, D. T. (n.d.). Madagascar Periwinkle. Retrieved January 2011, from Pacific (Western) yew. (n.d.). Retrieved January 2011, from Pacific Yew. (n.d.). Retrieved January 2011, from Pacific Yew. ( ). Retrieved January 2011, from Herbs2000: Pacific yew tree in Prostate Cancer. ( ). Retrieved January 2011, from cancer.com/prostate-cancer-glossary/pacific-yew-tree.html Petursson, H. (2003). The Biogeography of Taxus Brevifolia, Pacific Yew. Retrieved January 2011, from Plants Database. (n.d.). Retrieved January 2011, from USDA: Plants Database. (n.d.). Retrieved January 2011, from USDA: Rose Periwinkle. ( ). Retrieved January 2011, from Dave's Garden: Rosy Periwinkle. (n.d.). Retrieved January 2011, from Taxol. (n.d.). Retrieved January 2011, from Taxol - The drama behind total synthesis. (n.d.). Retrieved January 2011, from chem.org/yuuki/taxol/taxol_en.html Taxol. (2007). Retrieved January 2011, from National Historic Chemical Landmarks: Taxus brevifolia. (n.d.). Retrieved January 2011, from VirginiaTech: Taxus brevifolia. (2011). Retrieved January 2011, from Native Plant Database: Vincristine/Vinblastine. (n.d.). Retrieved January 2011, from