Lochnera rosea

A number of alkaloids with the aspidospermine skeleton occur in the genus Vinca and are dealt with in detail in Chapter 12. They include the very important base vindoline (CIII) which not only occurs as the free base in Vinca rosea (= Lochnera rosea = Catharanthus roseus) but also as part of the dimeric alkaloids vinblastine (vincaleucoblastine) and leurosine, whereas the Aa-formyl analog, CIV, forms part of the dimeric alkaloid leurocristine (5, 72a). These dimeric alkaloids have been used successfully for the treatment of certain forms of cancer in man (5). Vindolinine (CVI) has also been isolated from V. rosea and its dihydro-decarbomethoxy derivative, tuboxenin (CVI-A), which is the parent member of the series, occurs in a Pleiocarpa species (53). ( + )-Vincadif-formine (XCIII, 6, 74) has already been mentioned as the racemic form of (— )-6,7-dihydrotabersonine (Section II, O). It has been found in V. difformis and in Rhazya stricta (51b) where the (+) form also occurs. 

Catharanthus roseus G.Don, (syn. Vinca rosea (L.), Lochnera rosea (L.), Reichb.), family Apocynaceae, is a perennial herb, 50-80 cm high. The flowers are white, pink or red. The plant originates from Madagascar and is now pantropic in its distribution. It is cultivated for two purposes as an ornamental... 

Fig. 15. Catharanthus roseus (L.), G.Don =VinM rosea lj.=Lochnera rosea L.Reichb.) Culti vation in the Tuticorin district, Southern India. 

Some confusion exists about the botanical name of this plant, and names such as Lochnera rosea. Vinca rosea, and Ammocallis rosea are sometimes used the correct name is Catharanthus roseus [2]. Vinca is another genus in the Apocynaceae, and Vinca major and V minor are classified in this genus, but produce a very different range of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids. 

Forsyth WGC, Simmonds NW (1957) Anthocyanidins of Lochnera rosea. Nature 180 ... 

Shimizu M, Uchimaru F 1958 Isolation of alkaloids from Vinca Lochnera) rosea. Chem Pharm Bull 6 324... 

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