Vinca major Health Dictionary

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Vinca Major: From 1 Different Sources

(Linn.) Pich.

Synonym: V pubescens Urv.

Family: Apocynaceae.

Habitat: Native to Europe. Found in the Himalayas, West Bengal and Palni Hills.

English: Green Periwinkle, Greater Periwinkle.

Action: Astringent, antihaemor- rhagic, hypotensive. Used to treat menorrhagia and leucorrhoea.

The herb contains indole alkaloids; majdine, isomajdine, majoridine, aku- ammine, akuammigine, carpanaubine, irvine, reserpine, serpentine, sarpagi- ne, tetrahydroalstonine, vincamajine and vincamajoreine; and tannins.

The cytotoxic dimeric alkaloids present in Vinca rosea L., used in the treatment of certain types of cancer, have not been found in Vinca major.
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Vinca Alkaloids

A group of powerful CYTOTOXIC (anticancer) drugs used to treat acute LEUKAEMIA, LYMPHOMA and some solid tumours such as breast and lung cancers. Originally derived from the periwinkle plant, the latest vinca alkaloid (VINORELBINE) is a semi-synthetic drug. These alkaloids, which are given intravenously, have potentially serious side-effects on the nervous system and also suppress the production of MYELOID cells in the bone marrow.... vinca alkaloids

Origanum Majorana

Linn.

Family: Orchidaceae.

Habitat: Kashmir to Nepal at altitudes of 2,500-5,000 m in damp places.

English: Orchis, Salep.

Ayurvedic: Munjaataka, Saalam- misri, Saalam-panjaa. (Eulophia campestris Wall. is also equated with Munjaataka.)

Unani: Saaleb, Khusyaat-us-Saalab, Saalab Misri.

Siddha: Silamishri.

Action: Considered aphrodisiac and nervine tonic by Unani physicians. Tuber—nutritive, demulcent, restorative. Given

Synonym: Majorana hortensis Moench.

Family: Labiatae; Lamiaceae.

Habitat: Native to Europe and Great Britain.

English: Sweet Marjoram. (Origanum vulgare Linn., Wild Marjoram, occurs in Simla hills and in Kashmir valley.)

Ayurvedic: Sukhaatmaka, Maruba- ka, Phanijjaka. (Ocimum basilicum is used as a substitute for Phanijjaka.)

Unani: Marzanjosh.

Folk: Maruae. Santhraa. Jangali Maruaa (Origanum vulgare Linn.).... origanum majorana

Plantago Major

Linn.

Family: Plantaginaceae.

Habitat: The temperate and alpine Himalayas from Kashmir to Bhutan at altitudes of 600-3,500 m.

English: Broadleaf Plantain.

Ayurvedic: Ashvagola (var.).

Folk: Isabgol.

Action: Plant—haemostatic, antihistaminic, antibacterial, wound-healing in burns and inflammation of tissues. Leaves— cooling, astringent, diuretic, vulnerary, febrifuge. Used for diarrhoea, bacillary dysentery, hepatitis, urinary diseases, piles, ulcers and skin diseases. Leaves are used for cystitis with blood, haematuria and other bladder disorders.

The aqueous extract of the leaves showed anti-inflammatory activity in mice.

The aerial parts contain an iridoid glucoside, majoroside. The leaves contain a phenylpropanoid glycoside, plantamajoside, exhibiting antibacterial activity against several pathogenic bacteria including E. coli and Staphy- lococcus aureus. (The glycoside is less inhibitory than the free acids, caffeic, ferulic, and rosmarinic and esculetin.)... plantago major

Vinca Minor

Linn.

Family: Apocynaceae.

Habitat: Grown in Indian gardens as an ornamental.

English: Lesser Periwinkle.

Action: Astringent and circulatory stimulant (contain alkaloid vin- camine). Used for gastric catarrh, chronic dyspepsia; restlessness, headache, dizziness, and for the prevention of premature aging of brain cells, as a geriatic support.

The herb contains indole alkaloids (0.15-1.4%). The major constituent in vincamine; others include vinic, apovincamine, vincadifformin.

Vincamine is hypotensive; increases blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain. The vincamine content in the herb is low and fluctuates greatly. Overdose of the extract brings about a severe drop in blood pressure.

Vincamine, as a pure substance is available for therapeutic administration.... vinca minor

Major Histocompatibility Complex

see MHC.... major histocompatibility complex

Vinca Alkaloid

one of a group of *antimitotic drugs (see also cytotoxic drug) derived from the periwinkle (Vinca rosea). Vinca alkaloids are used especially to treat leukaemias and lymphomas; they include vinblastine, vincristine, and vindesine. Vinorelbine is used in the treatment of advanced breast cancer and *non-small-cell lung cancer. Vinflunine is given by intravenous infusion to treat *transitional cell carcinoma. Vinca alkaloids are highly toxic; side-effects include *myelosuppression, peripheral neuropathy, and severe irritation at the injection site.... vinca alkaloid

Vinca Pusilla

Murr.

Synonym: Catharanthus pusillus G. Don.

Lochnera pusilla (Murr.) K. Schum.

Family: Apocynaceae.

Habitat: West Bengal and throughout greater part of India, as a weed.

Ayurvedic: Sangkhi, Sangkhaphuli (The Wealth of India).

Folk: Milagaipoondu (Tamil Nadu), Kapavila (Kerala), Vishakane- gale (Karnataka), Neru (Andhra Pradesh) Mirchaai (Bihar).

Action: Plant—oncolytic (tumour- resolving). A decoction of the dried plant boiled in oil is used in the treatment of lumbago.

The plant contains ajmalicine, rau- wolscine, vindoline, pusiline and pusi- linine, while leurosine, lochnerinine, venoterpine, vindorosine and vincapu- sine have been isolated from the leaves. The root gave lochnericine. Leurosine is cytotoxic. Pusiline and pusilinine cause marked depression of the heart.... vinca pusilla

Vinca Rosea

Linn.

Synonym: Catharanthus roseus (Linn.) G.Don.

Family: Apocynaceae.

Habitat: Native of West Indies; commonly grown in Indian gardens.

English: Madagascar Periwinkle.

Ayurvedic: Sadaapushpaa, Sadam- pushpa, Nityakalyaani, Sadaaba- haar.

Siddha: Nithiya kalyani, Sudukadu mallikai.

Action: Cytotoxic.

Over one hundred monomeric and bisindole alkaloids have been isolated.

The indole alkaloid, vincamine, is a vasodilator; the bisindole alkaloids vinblastine and vincristine proved to be highly effective as cancer chemothera- peutic agents.

Vinblastine and vincristine are clinically used in a number of thrombo- cytopenic disorders, such as refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpurea and haemolytic anaemia.

Vinblastine in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents (cis- platin and bleomycin) is used for the treatment of metastatic testicular cancer; also against bladder cancer, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma in combination with other drugs.

Vincristine, in various combinations, is highly effective in acute leukemia in children and lymphocytic leukemia; and pediatric tumours. (The Treatise on Indian Medicinal Plants.)... vinca rosea

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