Vinca rosea, also known as Catharanthus roseus, is a subtropical ornamental plant used in traditional medicine for treating various ailments, including diabetes and asthma, and contains alkaloids with anti-tumor properties. Datura metal, or stramonium, contains toxic tropane alkaloids and has a history of medicinal use for conditions like asthma and heart disorders, despite potential side effects. Both plants are utilized in herbal remedies across different cultures but require careful usage due to their toxic characteristics.

1. Vinca rosea (billa ganneru) uses

2. Vinca rosea (billa ganneru) uses

3. Catharanthus roseus
•Catharanthus roseus is a popular ornamental plant.
•This subtropical flowering plant can be grown year
round in warm regions.
• It is widely used in temperate zones as an annual
bedding plant and continues blooming throughout the
season.
•The five petaled flowers range from white to various
shades of pinks, purples and deeper reddish colors.

4. Constituents
- Leaves yield a volatile oil containing aldehyde, sesquiterpenes,
furfural, sulphur-containing compounds, lochnerol, vincamine,
vinpocetin (ethyl aponvincminate), vincarosin.
- Plant yields an amorphous alkaloid, vincarosin.
- Compounds identified: Alkaloids (vincristine, vinblastine,
ibogaine, yohimbine, raubasine), flavonoids (hirsutidin).
- Plant yields more than 100 monoterpenoid indole alkaloids.
- Leaves and stems yield dimeric alkaloids vincristine and
vinblastine.
- Roots yield ajmalicine and serpentine.
Vinca rosea (billa ganneru) uses

5. Catharanthus roseus uses
• Indian Ayurvedic medicine and other
traditional herbal systems use Catharanthus
roseus for the treatment of diabetes.
• Insect stings are relieved using a juice from the
leaves. Herbal use in the Caribbean includes
using extracts from the flowers as an eyewash
for infants.
•The flowers are also used for treating asthma
and excess gas.
• Other traditional herbal treatments include
using the plant for painful menstruation,
tuberculosis and rheumatism.

6. The plant contains dozens of alkaloids, including
vinblastine, which was found to have anti-tumor
properties.
Medication made from this alkaloid is used to treat
Hodgkin’s lymphoma, an immune system cancer.
A second alkaloid, vincristine, is utilized for treating
leukemia in children.
.
Vinca rosea (billa ganneru) uses

7. Antibacterial properties have been found in the
extracts of the leaves.
Crude leaf extract has anticancer activity. , juice of
leaves used as application to wasp stings.
- In Mauritius, infusion of leaves used for indigestion
and dyspepsia
- Recent use of roots for anticancer applications.
- Roots used for dysentery.
The flower petals, seeds and other parts of the plant
exhibit antioxidant properties.
The bitter and astringent leaves used as vomitive;
roots used as purgative, vermifuge, depurative,
hemostatic and toothache remedy.
In India, juice of leaves used for bee stings.
Vinca rosea (billa ganneru) uses

8. Datura metal or stramonium

9. Datura metel (ummetta)

10. Datura species are herbaceous, leafy annuals and short-
lived perennials which can reach up to 2 m in height.
The leaves are alternate, 10–20 cm long and 5–18 cm
broad, with a lobed or toothed margin.
The flowers are erect or spreading , trumpet-shaped,
colors vary from white to yellow, pink, and pale purple.
The fruit is a spiny capsule 4–10 cm long and 2–6 cm
broad, splitting open when ripe to release the numerous
seeds.
Datura metal or stramonium

11. FruitDatura metal or stramonium

12. Medicinal Properties
The plant is a rich source of certain active ingredients such
as tropane alkaloids atropine, hyoscyamine, apohyoscine,
meteloidine and scopolamine which are toxic and nature
but also medicinally important.
These chemicals provide the plant with antimalarial,
antiphlegmatic, anodyne, antispasmodic, anti-
inflammatory, anthelmintic, analgesic, hypnotic,
hallucinogenic, narcotic, mydriatic toxifying and
antiasthmic properties.
Datura metal or stramonium

13. Medicinal uses
Due to the toxic chemicals present in datura, it has been
deployed in the treatment of various diseases from the
ancient times.
Some of the important medicinal uses of the plant are:
The smokes of the burning leaves of Datura are very
effective in the treatment of asthma.
The leaves of the plant enhance the healing process in the
body and gives great relief in pain.
Datura is considered to be one of the best cures for
phlegmatic and bilious malaria.
Various heart disorders such as cardiac pains, palpitations
and aortic disorders can be treated with the help of
datura.
Datura metal or stramonium

14. Extract of leaves are quite effective in curing earache.
The fruits of the plant are very useful in case of
impotency.
Datura is used for checking the secretion of milk from
the breasts.
A poultice of the plant leaf can be used externally in
abscesses wounds and is also effective in treatment of
fistulas and severe neuralgia.
It is also used in hair care as it reduces hair fall and
helps to fight the dandruff.
If taken with proper guidance, it is also helpful in
curing piles.
Datura metal or stramonium

15. Datura can cause side effects like
amnesia, blurred vision, nausea,
giddiness, confusion, rapid pulse,
hyperthermia, delirium,
hallucinations, psychosis, and even
violent behavior. Besides, it can cause
convulsions and prove to be fatal.
Datura metal or stramonium

16. • Traditionally, datura leaves are burnt and smoked to
relax the bronchial tubes and hence, reduce symptoms
of asthma.
Inhaling the smoke of burning seeds also alleviates
toothache.
Applying warm datura leaves as a poultice is useful in
getting rid of boils. You can also add castor oil to
facilitate the process of healing.
Washing your wounds with a decoction prepared from
the leaves of datura benefits in curing them.
To reduce earache, prepare a solution by boiling half a
cup of juice extracted from datura leaves and an equal
amount of sesame oil in a tin vessel, on low heat. Next,
smear oil and sprinkle a little salt on seven madar
leaves (swallow wort).

17. When the datura juice reduces to half, boil these leaves in the
solution until they are charred. Finally, strain and cool the
solution. Put two to three drops of this home medicine in ears
to relieve the pain.
Tying warm datura leaves on breasts stops lactation and
relieves pain. This treatment is useful for women who have had
miscarriage or abortion.
.
Heat two teaspoons of coconut oil in a pan and fry this paste
in it until the mixture is charred.
Apply this solution on bald patches to stimulate hair growth
and fight baldness. Follow this therapy for at least a few days.

18. Applying the juice of datura fruit on scalp helps reduce
dandruff and hair fall.
Relaxing on a bed lined with datura leaves induces sleep
and treats insomnia.
When dealing with feet ache and inflammation, boil half cup
each of juice extracted from datura leaves, ginger and madar
leaves in half a cup of sesame oil. When the mixture cools,
massage it on your legs.
Precautions
Although datura benefits in curing certain ailments, it should
be used with caution under the supervision of a qualified
physician as its overdose can lead to toxic effects.
Moreover, it can affect the nervous system adversely. Plus, the
juice of datura leaves is extremely harmful for eyes.