Abstract
Objective: The main objectives of this study were analysis of the phytochemicals produced by two different Catharanthus roseus morphotypes, i.e., pink and white flowered and evaluate it morphologically and phytochemically in terms of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant properties, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis.
 Methods: Methanolic extracts of both morphotypes were prepared by Soxhlet apparatus. After extraction, the extracts were filtered and solvent removed by rotatory evaporator. TPC was determined by Folin–Ciocalteu reagent method and TFC was estimated by aluminum chloride colorimetric method. Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities were estimated by superoxide dismutase and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay. GC-MS analysis was performed at Central Instrumentation Laboratory/ SAIF, Panjab University, Chandigarh.
 Results: Pink-flowered C. roseus showed highest activities in terms of TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity as compared to white-flowered C. roseus. 42 different bioactive compounds were detected in the methanolic extract of pink, while only 7 compounds were identified in white-flowered C. roseus. The identification was performed by GS-MS analysis mainly based on retention time, peak area, molecular formula, and molecular weight.
 Conclusion: The finding indicated that the pink-flowered C. roseus was phytochemically superior then the white one.
Highlights
Plants play a potential role, especially in the production of herbal medicine and pharmaceutical medications
The antioxidant activities were investigated by commonly used free radical scavenging methods such as DPPH and Superoxide dismutase (SOD)
The scavenging effect of leaf extracts on the DPPH free radicals was expressed as percentage inhibition, and they were compared with standard antioxidant, ascorbic acid
Summary
Plants play a potential role, especially in the production of herbal medicine and pharmaceutical medications. The modern medicine productions rely on medicinal plant-derived therapeutic components. Many medicinal plants contain an assortment of pharmaceutical components which have an extremely fundamental role in the fields of veterinary and human prescription. Plant-based items play a dominant role in the development of novel drug leading to the treatment and prevention of diseases [2,3,4]. History reveals that plants are important sources of drugs and will continuously be essential for the discovery of new lead compounds [5]. In India, medicinal plants are of great interest to the field of plant biotechnology, as most of the pharmaceutical industries depend on plants for the production of therapeutic compounds [6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
