Perwinkle is an annual shrub that comes from Madagascar, but has spread to many other tropical regions. Scientific name Catharanthus roseus (L.) Don. Perwinkle many kept as ornamental plants. Perwinkle often differentiated by types of flowers, the white and red.
Plants erect shrub that can reach a height of stems to 100 cm, is actually a common wild plant thrives in the desert or in the rural tropics. Grows well start from the lowlands to an altitude of 800 meters above sea level. This plant likes places that are open, but not close the possibility can grow in a somewhat sheltered as well. Habitus shrubs grow sideways.
Perwinkle plants have stems that are round with small diameter, woody, segmented and branched and hairy. Oval-shaped leaves, green and leafy classified single. Leaves about 2-6 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, and leaves a very short stalk. Stems and leaves contain a white latex.
The flowers axial (arising from axillary leaves). Petals small, shaped nails. Trumpet-shaped flower crown, tip broad, white, blue, pink or purple depending on cultivar. The fruit is cylindrical, tip pointed, hairy, a length of about 1.5 to 2.5 cm, and has many seeds. The spread of this plant through seeds.
From the roots, stems, leaves to flowers perwikle contain chemical elements that are useful for treatment, include: vincristine, vinrosidin, vinblastine and vinleurosin an alkaloid content of the composition of substances from this plant.
Diseases which can be treated with this plant include: Diabetes, Hypertension, Leukemia, Asthma, bronchitis, fever, stomach inflammation, dysentery, less blood, Mumps, Boils, Ulcers, Burns, Wounds new, and Swelling.