Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part A (2025)

Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle) has long been recognized as a medicinal plant of global importance, primarily due to its repertoire of indole alkaloids such as vincristine and vinblastine, which serve as frontline chemotherapeutics. This study provides an integrated pharmacognostic and pharmacological evaluation to elucidate its therapeutic potential and clinical implications. Plant materials were collected, authenticated, and subjected to solvent-based extraction, with methanol yielding the highest alkaloid recovery. Organ-specific analysis revealed leaves as the predominant reservoirs of vinca alkaloids, highlighting the significance of targeted raw material selection. Phytochemical screening and chromatographic assays confirmed the presence of bioactive metabolites, while in vitro assays demonstrated strong antioxidant and moderate antimicrobial activities. In vivo studies using streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats indicated significant antihyperglycemic effects, with blood glucose reductions of over 40% by Day 14, while cholesterol-fed rabbit models showed notable hypolipidemic effects, including reductions in total cholesterol and LDL-C along with elevation of HDL-C. Statistical analysis confirmed solvent-dependent extraction differences, reinforcing the role of methodological optimization in pharmacognostic research. Collectively, these findings validate the traditional uses of C. roseus and establish its relevance in managing oxidative stress, microbial infections, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. The convergence of pharmacognostic profiling and pharmacological validation underscores its potential for herbal drug development, provided challenges in standardization, safety, and clinical translation are adequately addressed. This research reinforces the ethnopharmacological value of C. roseus and proposes practical pathways for advancing it as a standardized phytopharmaceutical for integrative healthcare.