Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don (formerly Vinca rosea L.,
Apocynaceae) is commonly known as the Madagascar periwinkle
and was originally an endemic subshrub species of
Madagascar, having now acquired a pantropical distribution.
The leaves of C. roseus were used in traditional medicine as
an oral hypoglycemic agent and the study of this activity led to
the discovery of two terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIA), vinblastine
and vincristine (1), the first natural anticancer agents to be
clinically used and, since they are present in very low levels
on C. roseus leaves, the TIA pathway has been intensively
investigated (2, 3).