Abstract

Catheranthus roseus is a flowering perennial, ornamental and evergreen plant native to Madagascar, South-Eastern coast of Africa, grown in tropical and subtropical regions. It is known for its anti-diabetic, antimicrobial and anti-cancerous effects. It is a medicinal plant that produces terpenoids indole alkaloids (TIA), Monoterpenoids indole alkaloids (MIA), Phenolic compounds and organic acids. It is having various pharmacological health promoting beneficial properties like antidiarrheal, antifungal, antimalerial, antioxidant, memory enhencers, aids in preventing cardiovascular diseases, stomachache and sources of huge bio-active compounds. Biochemical assessment study confirmed our phytoalkalods by High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method after doing Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). The isolates were purified by TLC where various solvent extracts of periwinkle leaves were found to be 0.525, 0.8, 0.44, 0.76, etc. The highest microbial activity was observed in crude ethanolic extract of Catheranthus roseus against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, followed by Streptococcus, E. coli and Staphylococcus grown in rich petriplates. The microbial zone inhibition in diameters are 29 mm, 10-13 mm, 18 mm, 25 mm, etc. confirms antimicrobial activity of Catheranthus. The HPLC analysis confirms that it contains various phyto-alkaloids like 1-Corynanthine, 2-yohimbine, 3-vincamine, 4-ajmalacine, 5-vincristine, 6-vinblastine, 7-tetrahydro alstonine. It is an excellent medicinal ornament having high potential medicinal value could be used for novel drugs discovery, drug designing and drug industry. In future this study can help to target genes further responsible for phytoalkaloid production in specific manner which could be part of functional genomics and molecular pharmacognosy and molecular tools for crop improvement.

Ganit, S., Das, A., Das, S., 2024. Biochemical Assessment and Antimicrobial Effects of Health Beneficial Phytoalkaloids in Catharanthus roseus. Research Biotica, 2024, online first.