Madagascar Periwinkle
This pretty pink flower comes from a faraway island called Madagascar. It is also used to make medicine for sick people.
Where is it from?
The Madagascar periwinkle (also called rosy periwinkle) is originally from the island of Madagascar, off the coast of Africa. It grows in sunny, open places. Now people grow it in gardens all over the world because it is beautiful and easy to care for.
What is it for?
People grow this plant to decorate their gardens and balconies. It has bright pink flowers with a lighter center and green leaves. But it also has a secret power: its leaves and stems contain special chemicals called alkaloids that are used to make medicines for cancer. Two important ones are vinblastine and vincristine.
Who uses it?
Gardeners and plant lovers use it as an ornamental plant. Scientists and doctors use its chemicals to make chemotherapy drugs that help people with cancer. The plant is also used in traditional medicine in some cultures.
Tradition
In Madagascar, the plant has been used in traditional medicine for a long time. Scientists discovered its cancer-fighting properties in the 1950s. Since then, it has become an important plant for modern medicine.
Other cultures with similar things
Many cultures have plants that are both beautiful and medicinal. For example, the foxglove plant has pretty flowers and is used to make heart medicine. The willow tree has catkins and its bark is used to make aspirin.
Connections
Next to find
- Find another plant that is both pretty and used in medicine.
- Look for a plant that comes from Madagascar in a garden or greenhouse.
- Learn how scientists discovered the medicine in this flower.
长春花
这种漂亮的粉红色花来自一个叫马达加斯加的遥远岛屿。它也被用来为病人制作药物。
它来自哪里？
长春花（也叫日日春）原产于非洲海岸外的马达加斯加岛。它生长在阳光充足、开阔的地方。现在人们在世界各地的花园里种植它，因为它美丽且容易照料。
它有什么用途？
人们种植这种植物来装饰花园和阳台。它有亮粉色的花朵，中心较浅，叶子翠绿。但它还有一个秘密能力：它的叶子和茎含有特殊的化学物质，称为生物碱，用于制造抗癌药物。两种重要的是长春碱和长春新碱。
谁使用它？
园丁和植物爱好者把它作为观赏植物。科学家和医生使用它的化学物质制造化疗药物，帮助癌症患者。这种植物也在一些文化中用于传统医学。
传统
在马达加斯加，这种植物在传统医学中使用了很长时间。科学家在20世纪50年代发现了它的抗癌特性。从那时起，它已成为现代医学的重要植物。
其他有类似事物的文化
许多文化都有既美丽又有药用价值的植物。例如，毛地黄有漂亮的花，用于制造心脏药物。柳树有柔荑花序，其树皮用于制造阿司匹林。
关联
下次寻找
- 找到另一种既漂亮又用于药物的植物。
- 在花园或温室中寻找来自马达加斯加的植物。
- 了解科学家如何发现这种花中的药物。