Total Phenolic and Antioxidant Activity of in Different Geographical Locations of Rajasthan Catharanthus Roseus

Total phenolics and radical scavenging activity of leaf extracts of some wild stands of Catharanthus roseus from different ecological regions were investigated. Total phenolics were determined spectrophotometrically using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and expressed as gallic acid equivalent/g (mg of GAE/g of sample). The antioxidant activity was determined spectrophotometrically by a 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. Total phenolic content, as well as the scavenging activity showed a great variability (8.18±1.61 to 21.46±2.39mg GAE/g and DPPH IC 8.5331.67 g/ml) depending on the environmental conditions of the regions. Both the phenolics and DPPH results of methanolic leaf extract were found in good agreement and suggest the present collection of C. roseus as a potential source of antioxidants. Effects of environmental factors on the amounts of secondary metabolites in plants are also discussed. : Antioxidant activity, Catharanthus roseus, Free radical, Phenolics. 50