4 EQ5 - Rosy Periwinkle

What is the rosy periwinkle and where does it come from?

The rosy periwinkle is a small evergreen shrub that is native to Madagascar, although is now common in many tropical and sub-tropical regions. The plant requires a warm tropical climate with well drained and slightly acidic soils.

Why is the rosy periwinkle useful?

* It was used in traditional medicines, from the treatment of wasp stings to diabetes
* It is also used as an ornamental garden plant in tropical countries
* In the ^^1960s^^, scientists realised that it contained alkaloids called vincristine and vinblastine which are powerful drugs in the treatment of cancer

How do the substance work?

Vincristine:

* Chemotherapy for childhood leukaemia
* ^^Survival rates have increased from 10% in 1970 to over 90% today^^

Vinblastine:

* Highly effective in treating Hodgkins lymphoma

Why is the rosy periwinkle very important?

Scientists have been unable to synthesise the alkaloids synthetically so the production of the necessary drugs relies on the commercial cultivation of rosy periwinkle, mainly in India, central Asia and Madagascar.

How much are the substances worth?

Global sales of vincristine and vinblastine are worth millions of dollars to Eli Lilly, the US pharmaceutical company that developed them.

Why is the cultivation of the plant controversial?

* Few of the profits from the sales of vincristine and vinblastine are channeled back to Madagascar and its indigenous rainforest people
* This is especially problematic because Madagascar is one of the top 10 poorest countries in the world in terms of per capita GDP
* This exploitation of biological resource is called ^^biopiracy^^
* It deprives LIDCs of valuable international trade, potential exports and value added
* Biopiracy therefore hinders economic growth and progress in tackling poverty and inequality

What is the protocol against biopiracy?

The Nagoya Protocol of 2014

* Countries who have signed the protocol must ensure that any biological resources used has been acquired legally from the country of origin
* It aims at the sharing of benefits of the utilisation of natural resources
* It is legally binding as it is under international law
* Some scientists have argued that the increased legislation around the research into natural medicines will hamper the development of life-saving diseases