ABSTRACT
Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don Madagascar periwinkle is one of the most extensively investigated medicinal plants. Pharmacological studies revealed that C. roseus contains more than 70 different types of alkaloids (indole alklaloids) and chemotherapeutic agents. Its high commercial value is due to the presence of anticancerous compound vincristine and vinblastine. Due to the presence of these compounds, viral infections in this plant are comparatively less. However, when it occurs, it affects the plant morphologically, physiologically, nutritionally, at a cellular level, as well as the quality and quantity of pharmaceutical interest compound found in plants in its healthy stage. The question arises that if C. roseus has an antiviral agent in it, then why some viruses are able to invade it. Why it is unable to defend itself when it is infected? What is the difference between the viruses that afflict C. roseus and the viruses against which C. roseus can work? Are there some common factors in those viruses that infect C. roseus? It is a potential antiviral agent, then why so many viruses are reported in it? The answer to these questions may give a new dimension to fight against viral infections in plants as well as in animals. The aim of this chapter is to summarize the progress made in the detection of viruses in C. roseus so that comparative analysis of viruses that invade and 36infect C. roseus can be made for future studies. We here report 54 viruses distributed worldwide in C. roseus, their name, natural host, symptoms, and their mode of transmission in alphabetical order. The particle size, shape, and other information about the viruses are reported in tabular form. These information may be useful for further studies. Although C. roseus is most extensively worked medicinal plants but most of the work has been done on its phytochemical properties. This study may induce some interest toward its virological study as its viral infection has its own significance.
