title: Water deficit stress effects on reactive oxygen metabolism in Catharanthus roseus; impacts on ajmalicine accumulation.
abstract: In the present work, we have analysed the changes in the reactive oxygen metabolism of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. plants in terms of H(2)O(2) content, lipid peroxidation and the free radical quenching systems (non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants) under drought stress. In addition to this, the root alkaloid ajmalicine was extracted and quantified from both control and drought stressed plants. The H(2)O(2) content was analysed from both stressed and unstressed control plants. Lipid peroxidation was estimated as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. The non-enzymatic antioxidants viz., ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol and reduced glutathione contents, antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase were extracted and estimated from the samples. The alkaloid ajmalicine was extracted and quantified from shade dried root samples and found significantly increased over control. From the results of this investigation, it can be concluded that the water deficit areas may be well used for the cultivation of medicinal plants like C. roseus and the economically important alkaloid production can be enhanced in the plant level.
authors.affiliation: Stress Physiology Lab, Department of Botany, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu, India. abdul79jaleel@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: C Abdul
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Jaleel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sankar
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Murali
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gomathinayagam
authors.forename: G M A
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Lakshmanan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Panneerselvam
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D060387:Ascorbate Peroxidases; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D030008:Catharanthus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D003681:Dehydration / Q000378:metabolism*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D046948:Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D046948:Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids; C005709:raubasine; D010544:Peroxidases; D060387:Ascorbate Peroxidases; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010100:Oxygen