title: Targeted metabolite analysis of Catharanthus roseus and its biological potential.
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 (IC(50) at 422, 442 and 2683 microg/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.
authors.affiliation: REQUIMTE/Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Porto University, R. Aníbal Cunha, 164, 4050-047 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferreres
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valentão
authors.forename: Paula B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sottomayor
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D001688:Biological Products / Q000737:chemistry; D002021:Buffers; D030008:Catharanthus / Q000737:chemistry*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D012015:Reference Standards; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D001688:Biological Products; D002021:Buffers; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010636:Phenols