Antioxidant potential and indole alkaloid profile variations with water deficits along different parts of two varieties of Catharanthus roseus

The variations in antioxidant potentials and indole alkaloid content were studied in the present investigation, in two varieties (rosea and alba) of Catharanthus roseus, an important herb used in traditional as well as modern medicine, exposed to water deficit stress. The antioxidant and alkaloid profiles were estimated from root, stem, leaf, flowers and pods. The antioxidant potentials were examined in terms of non-enzymatic antioxidant molecules and activities of antioxidant enzymes. The non-enzymatic antioxidant molecules studied were ascorbic acid (AA), alpha-tocopherol (alpha-toc) and reduced glutathione (GSH). The estimated antioxidant enzymes were superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). The antioxidant concentrations and activities of antioxidant enzymes were high under water deficit stress in all parts of the plants. Indole alkaloid content was high in the roots of rosea variety in response to stress when compared to alba variety. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.