By Leanna Feder

Feb 5 2019

Commonly known as Madagascar periwinkle, this member of the dogbane family has been cultivated for herbal and traditional medicine for centuries. Two chemotherapy medications are synthesized from the plant, vinblastine and vincristine, both used in the treatment of multiple cancers including leukemia and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The plant can be toxic if consumed orally and is officially listed as a hallucinogen in the state of Louisiana.