Native to central and southern Europe, from Portugal and France north to the Netherlands and the Baltic States, east to the Caucasus, and also southwestern Asia in Turkey, Vinca major is introduced to new locations usually as an ornamental or medicinal herb
The pink flower plant is used for heart problems. Put the flower in water for the night and drink overnight to treat irregular heartbeat. Another preparation is to pour water on 3 flowers and leave overnight and drink this water in the morning.
The compound vincamine contained in Teresitas (Vinca minor) is used for the prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular insufficiencies and disorders, it increases the cerebral blood flow, oxygen consumption, and glucose utilization. A large body of clinical evidence indicates a favorable effect of vincamine in a number of brain disorders of elderly patients, such as memory disturbances, vertigo, transient ischemic deficits, and headache. In general, Vinca Minor serves as a natural source for the industrial production of medicaments for stimulating brain blood flow.
It also has strong antibacterial and antitumor activities.
Farahanikia, B., Akbarzadeh, T., Jahangirzadeh, A., Yassa, N., Ardekani, M. R. S., Mirnezami, T., … & Khanavi, M. (2011). Phytochemical investigation of Vinca minor cultivated in Iran. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research: IJPR, 10(4), 777. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3813059/
Global Invasive Species Database (2021). Species profile: Vinca major. Downloaded from http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=487
Liu, J., Liu, Y., Pan, Y. J., Zu, Y. G., & Tang, Z. H. (2016). Determination of alkaloids in Catharanthus roseus and Vinca minor by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Analytical Letters, 49(8), 1143-1153. https://doi.org/10.1080/00032719.2015.1094664
Yildirim, A. B., Karakas, F. P., & Turker, A. U. (2013). In vitro antibacterial and antitumor activities of some medicinal plant extracts, growing in Turkey. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, 6(8), 616–624. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1995-7645(13)60106-6