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  1. Nejat N, Vadamalai G, Dickinson M
    Int J Mol Sci, 2012;13(2):2301-2313.
    PMID: 22408455 DOI: 10.3390/ijms13022301
    Madagascar periwinkle is an ornamental and a medicinal plant, and is also an indicator plant that is highly susceptible to phytoplasma and spiroplasma infections from different crops. Periwinkle lethal yellows, caused by Spiroplasma citri, is one of the most devastating diseases of periwinkle. The response of plants to S. citri infection is very little known at the transcriptome level. In this study, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to investigate the expression levels of four selected genes involved in defense and stress responses in naturally and experimentally Spiroplasma citri infected periwinkles. Strictosidine β-glucosidase involved in terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) biosynthesis pathway showed significant upregulation in experimentally and naturally infected periwinkles. The transcript level of extensin increased in leaves of periwinkles experimentally infected by S. citri in comparison to healthy ones. A similar level of heat shock protein 90 and metallothionein expression was observed in healthy, naturally and experimentally spiroplasma-diseased periwinkles. Overexpression of Strictosidine β-glucosidase demonstrates the potential utility of this gene as a host biomarker to increase the fidelity of S. citri detection and can also be used in breeding programs to develop stable disease-resistance varieties.
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus/genetics*; Catharanthus/immunology; Catharanthus/microbiology*
  2. Loh KY
    Malays Fam Physician, 2008;3(2):123-123.
    MyJurnal
    Catharanthus roseus (synonymous with Vinca rosea) is a perennial plant commonly seen in tropical countries. Seven species of this genus are native to Madagascar and one species is native to Southern Asia. It is more commonly known as Madagascar periwinkle. The local name in Malaysia is Kemunting Cina. The National Cancer Council of Malaysia (Majlis Kanser Nasional, MAKNA) uses the periwinkle logo as its symbol of hope for cancer patients. (Copied from article).
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus
  3. Nejat N, Valdiani A, Cahill D, Tan YH, Maziah M, Abiri R
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2015;2015:982412.
    PMID: 25667940 DOI: 10.1155/2015/982412
    Catharanthus roseus (L.) known as Madagascar periwinkle (MP) is a legendary medicinal plant mostly because of possessing two invaluable antitumor terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs), vincristine and vinblastine. The plant has also high aesthetic value as an evergreen ornamental that yields prolific blooms of splendid colors. The plant possesses yet another unique characteristic as an amiable experimental host for the maintenance of the smallest bacteria found on earth, the phytoplasmas and spiroplasmas, and serves as a model for their study. Botanical information with respect to synonyms, vernacular names, cultivars, floral morphology, and reproduction adds to understanding of the plant while the geography and ecology of periwinkle illustrate the organism's ubiquity. Good agronomic practices ensure generous propagation of healthy plants that serve as a source of bioactive compounds and multitudinous horticultural applications. The correlation between genetic diversity, variants, and TIA production exists. MP is afflicted with a whole range of diseases that have to be properly managed. The ethnobotanical significance of MP is exemplified by its international usage as a traditional remedy for abundant ailments and not only for cancer. TIAs are present only in micro quantities in the plant and are highly poisonous per se rendering a challenge for researchers to increase yield and reduce toxicity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus/anatomy & histology*; Catharanthus/classification; Catharanthus/microbiology; Catharanthus/chemistry*
  4. Nejat N, Vadamalai G, Davis RE, Harrison NA, Sijam K, Dickinson M, et al.
    Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 2013 Feb;63(Pt 2):540-548.
    PMID: 22523165 DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.041467-0
    This study addressed the taxonomic position and group classification of a phytoplasma responsible for virescence and phyllody symptoms in naturally diseased Madagascar periwinkle plants in western Malaysia. Unique regions in the 16S rRNA gene from the Malaysian periwinkle virescence (MaPV) phytoplasma distinguished the phytoplasma from all previously described 'Candidatus Phytoplasma' species. Pairwise sequence similarity scores, calculated through alignment of full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences, revealed that the MaPV phytoplasma 16S rRNA gene shared 96.5 % or less sequence similarity with that of previously described 'Ca. Phytoplasma' species, justifying the recognition of the MaPV phytoplasma as a reference strain of a novel taxon, 'Candidatus Phytoplasma malaysianum'. The 16S rRNA gene F2nR2 fragment from the MaPV phytoplasma exhibited a distinct restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) profile and the pattern similarity coefficient values were lower than 0.85 with representative phytoplasmas classified in any of the 31 previously delineated 16Sr groups; therefore, the MaPV phytoplasma was designated a member of a new 16Sr group, 16SrXXXII. Phytoplasmas affiliated with this novel taxon and the new group included diverse strains infecting periwinkle, coconut palm and oil palm in Malaysia. Three phytoplasmas were characterized as representatives of three distinct subgroups, 16SrXXXII-A, 16SrXXXII-B and 16SrXXXII-C, respectively.
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus/microbiology*
  5. Ayob FW, Simarani K
    Saudi Pharm J, 2016 May;24(3):273-8.
    PMID: 27275114 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2016.04.019
    This paper reported on the various filamentous fungi strains that were isolated from a wild grown Catharanthus roseus. Based on the morphological characteristics and molecular technique through a Polymerase Chain Reaction and DNA sequencing method using internal transcribed spacer (ITS), these fungi had been identified as a Colletotrichum sp., Macrophomina phaseolina, Nigrospora sphaerica and Fusarium solani. The ultrastructures of spores and hyphae were observed under a Scanning Electron Microscope. The hydrolytic enzyme test showed that all strains were positive in secreting cellulase. Colletotrichum sp. and F. solani strains also gave a positive result for amylase while only F. solani was capable to secrete protease. These fungi were putatively classified as endophytic fungi since they produced extracellular enzymes that allow them to penetrate plant cell walls and colonize with symbiotic properties.
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus
  6. Zahari R, Halimoon N, Ahmad MF, Ling SK
    Int J Anal Chem, 2018;2018:8150610.
    PMID: 29692811 DOI: 10.1155/2018/8150610
    Rigidoporus microporus, Ganoderma philippii, and Phellinus noxius are root rot rubber diseases and these fungi should be kept under control with environmentally safe compounds from the plant sources. Thus, an antifungal compound isolated from Catharanthus roseus was screened for its effectiveness in controlling the growth of these fungi. The antifungal compound isolated from C. roseus extract was determined through thin layer chromatography (TLC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. Each C. roseus of the DCM extracts was marked as CRD1, CRD2, CRD3, CRD4, CRD5, CRD6, and CRD7, respectively. TLC results showed that all of the C. roseus extracts peaked with red colour at Rf = 0.61 at 366 nm wavelength, except for CRD7. The CRD4 extract was found to be the most effective against R. microporus and G. philippii with inhibition zones of 3.5 and 1.9 mm, respectively, compared to that of other extracts. These extracts, however, were not effective against P. noxius. The CRD4 extract contained ursolic acid that was detected by NMR analysis and the compound could be developed as a biocontrol agent for controlling R. microporus and G. philippii. Moreover, little or no research has been done to study the effectiveness of C. roseus in controlling these fungi.
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus
  7. Saiman MZ, Miettinen K, Mustafa NR, Choi YH, Verpoorte R, Schulte AE
    Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult., 2018;134(1):41-53.
    PMID: 31007320 DOI: 10.1007/s11240-018-1398-5
    Previous studies showed that geraniol could be an upstream limiting factor in the monoterpenoid pathway towards the production of terpenoid indole alkaloid (TIA) in Catharanthus roseus cells and hairy root cultures. This shortage in precursor availability could be due to (1) limited expression of the plastidial geraniol synthase resulted in a low activity of the enzyme to catalyze the conversion of geranyl diphosphate to geraniol; or (2) the limitation of geraniol transport from plastids to cytosol. Therefore, in this study, C. roseus's geraniol synthase (CrGES) gene was overexpressed in either plastids or cytosol of a non-TIA producing C. roseus cell line. The expression of CrGES in the plastids or cytosol was confirmed and the constitutive transformation lines were successfully established. A targeted metabolite analysis using HPLC shows that the transformed cell lines did not produce TIA or iridoid precursors unless elicited with jasmonic acid, as their parent cell line. This indicates a requirement for expression of additional, inducible pathway genes to reach production of TIA in this cell line. Interestingly, further analysis using NMR-based metabolomics reveals that the overexpression of CrGES impacts primary metabolism differently if expressed in the plastids or cytosol. The levels of valine, leucine, and some metabolites derived from the shikimate pathway, i.e. phenylalanine and tyrosine were significantly higher in the plastidial- but lower in the cytosolic-CrGES overexpressing cell lines. This result shows that overexpression of CrGES in the plastids or cytosol caused alteration of primary metabolism that associated to the plant cell growth and development. A comprehensive omics analysis is necessary to reveal the full effect of metabolic engineering.
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus
  8. Wahab NZA, Azizul A, Ibrahim N
    Iran J Microbiol, 2020 Oct;12(5):460-465.
    PMID: 33604002 DOI: 10.18502/ijm.v12i5.4608
    Background and Objectives: Catharanthus roseus is generally used to treat many diseases in folklore remedies. The present study is aimed at determining phytochemical constituents, cytotoxicity and antiviral activities for crude extract of the plant.

    Materials and Methods: The whole plant of C. roseus was extracted using methanol extraction method. Phytochemical qualitative screening was carried out for C. roseus extract according to standard procedures used to test for the presence of alkaloid, saponin, terpenoid and steroid. Cytotoxicity was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Plaque reduction assays were carried out to evaluate the antiviral activity of C. roseus extract against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). These include post-treatment, pre-treatment and virucidal assays.

    Results: C. roseus extract contain secondary metabolites such as alkaloid, saponin and terpenoid but does not contain steroid. Cytotoxicity screening against Vero cells using MTT assay showed that the CC50 values for crude extract of C. roseus was 0.5 mg/mL. The extract prepared from C. roseus possesses phytochemical compound that was non-cytotoxic to the cell with potential antiviral activity. Plaque reduction assays against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) showed that the selective indices (SI = CC50 / EC50) of C. roseus extract in post-treatment, pre-treatment and virucidal assays were 36, 20 and 4.7 respectively. The results revealed that the extract prepared from C. roseus possesses phytochemical compound that was non-cytotoxic to the cell with potential antiviral activity.

    Conclusion: This study showed that C. roseus extract has promising potential to be explored as anti-HSV-1 agent regardless of the mode of treatment.

    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus
  9. Ahmad NH, Rahim RA, Mat I
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2010 Dec;21(2):101-13.
    PMID: 24575203
    Research on natural products has been widely used as a strategy to discover new drugs with potential for applications in complementary medicines because they have fewer side effects than conventional drugs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic effects of crude aqueous Catharanthus roseus extract on Jurkat cells and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The aqueous extract was standardised to vinblastine by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and was used to determine cytotoxicity by the MTS [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium] assay. DNA fragmentation assay was employed to determine if cell death was due to apoptosis. The results showed that the aqueous extract induced cell death of Jurkat cells at 24, 48 and 72 hours post-treatment in a time- and dose-dependent manner. However, cells treated at 48 and 72 hours produced higher cytotoxic effects with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 2.55 μg/ml and 2.38 μg/ml, respectively. In contrast, the extract induced normal PBMC proliferation, especially after 24 hours treatment with 1000 μg/ml. This result indicates that the C. roseus crude aqueous extract showed differential effects of inhibiting the proliferation of the Jurkat cell line and promoting the growth of PBMCs. These data suggest that the extract may be applicable for modulating the normal and transformed immune cells in leukaemia patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus
  10. Siti Zulaikha Ghozali, Mohd Nazri Ismail, Nor Hazwani Ahmad
    MyJurnal
    The biosynthesis of nanoparticles has been proposed as a cost-effective and environmental friendly alternative to chemical and physical methods. The present study was aimed to characterise Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus)-silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a standardised C. roseus aqueous extract. Methods: The standardisation was performed by using Liquid Chromatography/Time-of-Flight ion trap Mass Spectrometry. An optimised C. roseus-AgNPs have been previously synthesised. Further characterisation of C. roseus-AgNPs was evaluated by zeta potential analysis and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results: The chromatography analysis has revealed presence of thirteen possible indole alkaloids in C. roseus extract which were lochrovicine, lochnerine, vinleurosine, vindolinine, tabersonine, catharanthine, serpentine, catharosine, vincristine, catharine, ajmalicine, vinleurosine, and vindolicine. Zeta potential analysis exhibited the value at -16.6 mV. FTIR spectrum of C. roseus aqueous extract showed the absorption band at 3210.83 cm-1 (C-H stretch), 2934.11 (C-H bond), 1578.15 (N=O stretch), 1388.76 and 1314.89 (N=O bend), 1119.29 (C-O bond) and 729.94 (C-Cl bond). In comparison, FTIR spectrum of C. roseus-AgNP s showed the absorption band at 2925.01 and 2924.97 (C-H bond), 1622.93 (C-C=C symmetric stretch), 1383.19 and 1384.13 (N-O bend), 1037.92/1038.76/1238.3/1117.2 (C-O bond), 3169.4 (O-H bond), 774.59 and 691.53 (C-Cl bond). Conclusion: The present findings have shown that the C. roseus aqueous extract contains alkaloids that may responsible as reducing and stabilising agents in the synthesis of AgNPs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus
  11. Pan Q, Saiman MZ, Mustafa NR, Verpoorte R, Tang K
    PMID: 26854826 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2016.01.034
    A rapid and simple reversed phase liquid chromatographic system has been developed for simultaneous analysis of terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) and their precursors. This method allowed separation of 11 compounds consisting of eight TIAs (ajmalicine, serpentine, catharanthine, vindoline, vindolinine, vincristine, vinblastine, and anhydrovinblastine) and three related precursors i.e., tryptophan, tryptamine and loganin. The system has been applied for screening the TIAs and precursors in Catharanthus roseus plant extracts. In this study, different organs i.e., flowers, leaves, stems, and roots of C. roseus were investigated. The results indicate that TIAs and precursor accumulation varies qualitatively and quantitatively in different organs of C. roseus. The precursors showed much lower levels than TIAs in all organs. Leaves and flowers accumulate higher level of vindoline, catharanthine and anhydrovinblastine while roots have higher level of ajmalicine, vindolinine and serpentine. Moreover, the alkaloid profiles of leaves harvested at different ages and different growth stages were studied. The results show that the levels of monoindole alkaloids decreased while bisindole alkaloids increased with leaf aging and upon plant growth. The HPLC method has been successfully applied to detect TIAs and precursors in different types of C. roseus samples to facilitate further study of the TIA pathway and its regulation in C. roseus plants.
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus
  12. Saiman MZ, Mustafa NR, Verpoorte R
    Methods Mol Biol, 2018;1815:437-455.
    PMID: 29981141 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8594-4_31
    The plant Catharanthus roseus is a rich source of terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIA). Some of the TIA are important as antihypertensive (ajmalicine) and anticancer (vinblastine and vincristine) drugs. However, production of the latter is very low in the plant. Therefore, in vitro plant cell cultures have been considered as a potential supply of these chemicals or their precursors. Some monomeric alkaloids can be produced by plant cell cultures, but not on a level feasible for commercialization, despite extensive studies on this plant that deepened the understanding of the TIA biosynthesis and its regulation. In order to analyze the metabolites in C. roseus cell cultures, this chapter presents the method of TIA, carotenoids, and phytosterols analyses. Furthermore, an NMR-based metabolomics approach to study C. roseus cell culture is described.
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus/metabolism*
  13. Tiong SH, Looi CY, Hazni H, Arya A, Paydar M, Wong WF, et al.
    Molecules, 2013 Aug 15;18(8):9770-84.
    PMID: 23955322 DOI: 10.3390/molecules18089770
    Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don is a herbal plant traditionally used by local populations in India, South Africa, China and Malaysia to treat diabetes. The present study reports the in vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of the major alkaloids isolated from Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don leaves extract. Four alkaloids--vindoline I, vindolidine II, vindolicine III and vindolinine IV--were isolated and identified from the dichloromethane extract (DE) of this plant's leaves. DE and compounds I-III were not cytotoxic towards pancreatic β-TC6 cells at the highest dosage tested (25.0 µg/mL). All four alkaloids induced relatively high glucose uptake in pancreatic β-TC6 or myoblast C2C12 cells, with III showing the highest activity. In addition, compounds II-IV demonstrated good protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP-1B) inhibition activity, implying their therapeutic potential against type 2 diabetes. III showed the highest antioxidant potential in ORAC and DPPH assays and it also alleviated H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage in β-TC6 cells at 12.5 µg/mL and 25.0 µg/mL.
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus/chemistry
  14. Tiong SH, Looi CY, Arya A, Wong WF, Hazni H, Mustafa MR, et al.
    Fitoterapia, 2015 Apr;102:182-8.
    PMID: 25665941 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2015.01.019
    Vindogentianine, a new indole alkaloid together with six known alkaloids, vindoline, vindolidine, vindolicine, vindolinine, perivine and serpentine were isolated from leaf extract (DA) of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods; NMR, MS, UV and IR. Vindogentianine is a dimer containing a vindoline moiety coupled to a gentianine moiety. After 24h incubation, vindogentianine exhibited no cytotoxic effect in C2C12 mouse myoblast and β-TC6 mouse pancreatic cells (IC50>50μg/mL). Real-time cell proliferation monitoring also indicated vindogentianine had little or no effect on C2C12 mouse myoblast cell growth at the highest dose tested (200μg/mL), without inducing cell death. Vindogentianine exhibited potential hypoglycemic activity in β-TC6 and C2C12 cells by inducing higher glucose uptake and significant in vitro PTP-1B inhibition. However, in vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assay showed low inhibition under treatment of vindogentianine. This suggests that hypoglycemic activity of vindogentianine may be due to the enhancement of glucose uptake and PTP-1B inhibition, implying its therapeutic potential against type 2 diabetes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus/chemistry*
  15. Ayob FW, Simarani K, Zainal Abidin N, Mohamad J
    Microb Biotechnol, 2017 Jul;10(4):926-932.
    PMID: 28612376 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12603
    This paper reports on the vinca alkaloid produced by a novel Nigrospora sphaerica isolated from Catharanthus roseus. Through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS), only the crude mycelia extract of this fungus was positive for determination of vinblastine. This vinca alkaloid was then purified by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and tested for cytotoxicity activity using MTT assays. The breast cell line cancer (MDA-MB 231) was treated with a purified vinblastine which was intracellulary produced by N. sphaerica. The purified vinblastine from extracted leaf of C. roseus was used as a standard comparison. A positive result with a value of half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50 ) of > 32 μg ml-1 was observed compared with standard (IC50 ) of 350 μg ml-1 only. It showed that a vinblastine produced by N. sphaerica has a high cytotoxicity activity even though the concentration of vinblastine produced by this endophytic fungus was only 0.868 μg ml-1 .
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus/microbiology*
  16. Nor Hazwani Ahmad, Rohanizah Abdul Rahim, Ishak Mat
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2010;21(2):-.
    MyJurnal
    Research on natural products has been widely used as a strategy to discover new drugs with potential for applications in complementary medicines because they have fewer side effects than conventional drugs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic effects of crude aqueous Catharanthus roseus extract on Jurkat cells and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The aqueous extract was
    standardised to vinblastine by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and was used to determine cytotoxicity by the MTS [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium] assay. DNA fragmentation assay was employed to determine if cell death was due to apoptosis. The results showed that the aqueous extract induced cell death of Jurkat cells at 24, 48 and 72 hours posttreatment in a time- and dose-dependent manner. However, cells treated at 48 and 72 hours produced higher cytotoxic effects with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50)values of 2.55 µg/ml and 2.38 µg/ml, respectively. In contrast, the extract induced normal PBMC proliferation, especially after 24 hours treatment with 1000 µg/ml. This result indicates that the C. roseus crude aqueous extract showed differential effects of inhibiting the proliferation of the Jurkat cell line and promoting the growth of PBMCs. These data suggest that the extract may be applicable for modulating the normal and transformed immune cells in leukaemia patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus
  17. Okuda S, Prince JP, Davis RE, Dally EL, Lee IM, Mogen B, et al.
    Plant Dis, 1997 Mar;81(3):301-305.
    PMID: 30861775 DOI: 10.1094/PDIS.1997.81.3.301
    Phytoplasmas (mycoplasmalike organisms, MLOs) associated with mitsuba (Japanese hone-wort) witches'-broom (JHW), garland chrysanthemum witches'-broom (GCW), eggplant dwarf (ED), tomato yellows (TY), marguerite yellows (MY), gentian witches'-broom (GW), and tsu-wabuki witches'-broom (TW) in Japan were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA and restriction enzyme analysis of PCR products. The phytoplasmas could be separated into two groups, one containing strains JHW, GCW, ED, TY, and MY, and the other containing strains GW and TW, corresponding to two groups previously recognized on the basis of transmission by Macrosteles striifrons and Scleroracus flavopictus, respectively. The strains transmitted by M. striifrons were classified in 16S rRNA gene group 16SrI, which contains aster yellows and related phytoplasma strains. Strains GW and TW were classified in group 16SrIII, which contains phytoplasmas associated with peach X-disease, clover yellow edge, and related phytoplasmas. Digestion of amplified 16S rDNA with HpaII indicated that strains GW and TW were affiliated with subgroup 16SrIII-B, which contains clover yellow edge phytoplasma. All seven strains were distinguished from other phytoplasmas, including those associated with clover proliferation, ash yellows, elm yellows, and beet leafhopper-transmitted virescence in North America, and Malaysian periwinkle yellows and sweet potato witches'-broom in Asia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus
  18. Holcomb GE, Aime MC
    Plant Dis, 2010 Feb;94(2):272.
    PMID: 30754293 DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-94-2-0272C
    Plumeria spp., native to tropical America, are popular small trees grown widely in tropical areas of the world and as potted plants elsewhere. P. rubra and P. obtusa cultivars and hybrids are most common. A rust disease of a Plumeria sp. (likely P. rubra based on pointed leaf tips, leaves more than 18 cm (7 inches) long, and high rust susceptibility) was observed in November 2008 and again in June 2009 on homeowner plants in Baton Rouge, LA. A survey of five Baton Rouge retail nurseries in September 2009 revealed that 87% (90 of 103) of the plumeria plants were heavily infected with rust. Early symptoms included numerous 1-mm chlorotic spots on adaxial leaf surfaces followed by leaf chlorosis, necrosis, and abscission. Uredinia were numerous, mostly hypophyllous and yellowish orange. Urediniospores were catenulate, orange en masse, verrucose, globose, ovoid, ellipsoidal or angular, and measured 21.8 to 41.9 × 16.4 to 32.8 μm (average 29.4 × 22.6 μm). The rust was identified as Coleosporium plumeriae Pat. (= C. plumierae) (3). Teliospores were not found during this study. Pathogenicity tests were performed by spraying urediniospores (20,000/ml of deionized water) on three healthy Thai hybrid plumeria plants. Five leaves of each plant were misted with water and covered with plastic bags and three to five leaves were inoculated. Plants were held at 27°C for 27 h in a dew chamber and then moved outdoors. Typical rust symptoms and uredinia with urediniospores developed in 10 days on all inoculated leaves while noninoculated leaves remained healthy. Characteristics and spore measurements matched those of the rust from original infected plants. Additional plumeria rust inoculations were made to other Apocynaceae family members that included Allamanda cathartica, Catheranthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle), Mandevilla splendens, Nerium oleander, and Vinca major. Catheranthus roseus was very susceptible to C. plumeriae with chlorotic leaf spots developing on the six inoculated plants after 8 days and uredinia with urediniospores appearing after 11 days. None of the other plant genera were susceptible to the rust. Plumeria rust was also observed on plumeria trees in urban landscapes in peninsular (Penang) and Bornean (Kota Kinabalu, Sabah) Malaysia in December 2007. To confirm identity, ~1,000 bp of nuclear rDNA 28S subunit from each (Lousiana, Penang, and Kota Kinabalu) was sequenced with rust-specific primers (1) and shared 100% identity (GenBank No. GU145555-6). Plumeria rust was first found on the island of Guadeloupe (3) and then spread to Central and South America. It has been known from Florida since 1960 under the synonym C. domingense (2), but has not been reported elsewhere in the continental United States. In more recent years, plumeria rust has spread to Hawaii, many Pacific islands, India, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, and Nigeria (4). To our knowledge, this is the first report of plumeria rust from Louisiana and Malaysia and of susceptibility of another member of the Apocynaceae, Madagascar periwinkle, to C. plumeriae. Voucher material from Louisiana and Malaysia has been deposited in the Mycology Herbarium of Louisiana State University (LSUM). References: (1) M. C. Aime. Mycoscience 47:112, 2006. (2) Anonymous. Index of Plant Diseases in the United States. U.S. Dept. Agric. Handb. No. 165. Washington, D.C., 1960. (3) N. Patouillard. Bull. Soc. Mycol. Fr. 18:171, 1902. (4) C. To-Anun et al. Nat. Hist. J. Chulalongkorn Univ. 4:41, 2004.
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus
  19. Azhar NA, Ghozali SZ, Abu Bakar SA, Lim V, Ahmad NH
    Toxicol In Vitro, 2020 Sep;67:104910.
    PMID: 32526345 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2020.104910
    Application of silver nanoparticles serves as a new approach in cancer treatment due to its unique features. Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using plant is advantageous since they are easily accessible, nontoxic and produce quicker reaction compared to other methods. To evaluate the cytotoxicity, mechanism of cell death and DNA damage of biosynthesized Catharanthus roseus-silver nanoparticles on human liver cancer (HepG2) cells. The antiproliferative activity of Catharanthus roseus‑silver nanoparticles was measured using MTT assay. The cytotoxic effects were further evaluated by measuring nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The mechanism of cell death was determined by annexin-FITC/propidium iodide, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and cell cycle assays. The assessment of DNA damage was evaluated using Comet assay method. The uptake of the nanoparticles were evaluated by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Catharanthus roseus‑silver nanoparticles has inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a time-dependent manner with a median IC50 value of 3.871 ± 0.18 μg/mL. The concentration of nitrite and ROS were significantly higher than control. The cell death was due to apoptosis associated with MMP loss, cell cycle arrest, and extensive DNA damage. TEM analysis indicated the presence of free nanoparticles and endosomes containing the nanoparticles. The findings show that Catharanthus roseus‑silver nanoparticles have produced cytotoxic effects on HepG2 cells and thus may have a potential to be used as an anticancer treatment, particularly for hepatocellular carcinoma.
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus*
  20. Nejat N, Vadamalai G, Sijam K, Dickinson M
    Plant Dis, 2011 Oct;95(10):1312.
    PMID: 30731679 DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-03-11-0251
    Madagascar periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don, is a member of the Apocynaceae plant family that is native to Madagascar and produces dimeric terpenoid indole alkaloids that are used in the treatment of hypertension and cancer. Periwinkle as an indicator plant is highly susceptible to phytoplasmas and spiroplasma infection from different crops, and has been found to be naturally infected with spiroplasmas in Arizona, California, and the Mediterranean countries. In this study, surveys of suspected diseased periwinkles were conducted in various regions of Selangor State, Malaysia. Periwinkles showing rapid decline in the number and size of the flowers, premature abscission of buds and flowers, reduction in leaf size, chlorosis of the leaf tips and margins, general chlorosis, and stunting and dying plants were collected. These symptoms were widespread on periwinkle in this state. Diagnosis of the disease was based on symptomatology, grafting, serology (ELISA), PCR techniques, and cultivation. Tests for transmission by grafting were conducted using symptomatic periwinkle plants. Symptoms were induced on all eight graft-inoculated healthy periwinkles approximately 2 weeks after side grafting. Preliminary examination was performed by ELISA with Spiroplasma citri Saglio polyclonal antibody that was prepared against an Iranian S. citri isolate (H. Rahimian, unpublished data). Leaf extracts of all 24 symptomatic periwinkles gave positive ELISA reactions at OD405 readings ranging from 0.310 to 0.654 to the antibody against S. citri by the indirect ELISA method. Six healthy periwinkle leaves gave OD405 readings around 0.128. Total nucleic acids were extracted from 10 symptomatic and 5 asymptomatic plants (4). PCR using the ScR16F1/ScR16R1 primer pair designed to detect S. citri in carrot and P1/P7 and secA for1/rev3 primer pairs designed for identification of phytoplasmas were used to detect the causal agent (1-3). Amplification failed when the P1/P7 universal phytoplasma primer pair was used for diseased samples. However, the PCR assays resulted in products of 1,833 and 800 bp with ScR16F1/ScR16R1 and secA for1/rev3, respectively. Five of each ScR16F1/ScR16R1 and SecAfor1/SecArev3 products were cloned with the Topo TA cloning kit (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA), sequenced, and deposited as GenBank Accession Nos. HM015669 and FJ011099, respectively. Sequences for both genes indicated that S. citri was associated with the disease on periwinkle. ScR16F1/ScR16R1 products cloned from symptomatic periwinkles had 98% sequence identity with S. citri (GenBank Accession No. AM285316), while nucleotide sequences of SecAfor1/SecArev3 products had 88% sequence identity with S. citri GII3-3X (GenBank Accession No. AM285304). S. citri was cultivated from 10 S. citri-infected periwinkles using filtration and SP-4 media. Twenty culture tubes started to change culture medium color from red to yellow 1 month after cultivation. Helical and motile S. citri was observed in the dark-field microscope. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the presence and occurrence of S. citri in Southeast Asia and its association with lethal yellows on periwinkle in Malaysia. References: (1) J. Hodgetts et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 58:1826, 2008. (2) I.-M. Lee et al. Phytopathology 85:728, 1995. (3) I.-M. Lee et al. Plant Dis. 90:989, 2006. (4) Y.-P. Zhang et al. J. Virol. Methods. 71:45, 1998.
    Matched MeSH terms: Catharanthus
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