@article {17967, title = {Targeted metabolite analysis of Catharanthus roseus and its biological potential.}, journal = {Food \& Chemical Toxicology}, volume = {47}, year = {2009}, month = {2009-03-17 00:00:00}, pages = {1349-1354}, abstract = {

Catharanthus roseus\ is nowadays one of the most studied medicinal plants. In this work, further knowledge on different parts of this species (leaves, stems, seeds and petals) was achieved, namely phenolics by HPLC-DAD and organic acids and amino acids by HPLC-UV. Also, the biological potential, expressed as acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity was accessed and, in some parts, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitory capacity higher than 85\% was found (IC50\ at 422, 442 and 2683\ μg/mL in leaves, stems and petals, respectively).\ C. roseus\ aqueous extract revealed to be a rich source of phenolics, namely caffeoylquinic acids and flavonoids derivatives (up to 4127\ mg/kg in stems, 4484\ mg/kg in seeds, 8688\ mg/kg in leaves and 41125\ mg/kg in petals), organic acids (962, 6678, 25972 and 12463\ mg/kg in seeds, petals, stems and leaves, respectively), such as citric acid (over 85\% in some plant parts), and amino acids (31557, 39327, 50540 and 159697\ mg/kg in stems, petals, seeds and leaves, respectively), of which arginine was a major compound.

}, keywords = {Acetylcholinesterase inhibition, Amino acids, Catharanthus roseus, Organic acids, phenolics}, author = {Pereira, D. M. and Oliveira, J. and Ferreres, F. and Valent{\~a}o, P. and Andrade, P. B. and Sottomayor, M.} }