Biological isolation and characterization of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don methanolic leaves extracts and their assessment for antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and apoptotic activities

Catharanthus roseus extract-assisted silver nanoparticles chitosan films with high antioxidant and antimicrobial properties for fresh food preservation

Although the potential of chitosan (CS) -based biomass packaging materials for food preservation is encouraging, their use is severely constrained by the poor mechanical, UV, antioxidant, and solubility qualities. This study successfully combined silver nanoparticles made from Catharanthus roseus extracts with chitosan (CS-Ca-Ag) to enrich the functions of CS film. The films' Young's modulus values (45.489 MPa) were considerably raised after adding the extract-biosynthesized silver nanoparticles, in contrast to the chitosan film, and their water vapor permeability (2.386 × 10-12 g·mm-1·Pa-1·h-1) was greatly reduced. Furthermore, the antibacterial, antioxidant, and UV adsorption capabilities of CS-Ca-Ag films were significantly improved. The prepared Cs-Ca-Ag film had high biocompatibility and safety, making it suitable for strawberry coatings and chicken packaging. The CS-Ca-Ag film effectively limited the weight loss of fresh food, reduced nutrient loss, prevented microbial growth, and significantly extended food's shelf life. CS-based reinforced films containing Catharanthus roseus extract and silver nanoparticles showed potential food coating and packaging material applications.

Molecular Identification and Phytochemical Analysis and Bioactivity Assessment of Catharanthus roseus Leaf Extract: Exploring Antioxidant Potential and Antimicrobial Activities

Plants have long been at the main focus of the medical industry's attention due to their extensive list of biological and therapeutic properties and ethnobotanical applications. Catharanthus roseus, sometimes referred to as Nithyakalyani in Tamil, is an Apocynaceae family member used in traditional Indian medicine. It also examines the plant's potential antimicrobial and antioxidant activities as well as its preliminary phytochemical makeup. Leaf material from C. roseus was analyzed and found to include a variety of phytochemicals including alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, saponins, glycosides, quinones, and steroids. Four of the seven secondary metabolic products discovered in C. roseus leaves showed bioactive principles: 3-methylmannoside, squalene, pentatriacontane, and 2,4,4-trimethyl-3-hydroxymethyl-5a-(3-methyl-but-2-enyl)-cyclohexene. Catharanthus roseus is rich in the anticancer compounds vinblastine and vincristine. Whole DNA was isolated from fresh leaves, then amplified, sequenced, and aligned to find prospective DNA barcode candidates. One DNA marker revealed the restricted genetic relationship among C. roseus based on genetic distance and phylogenetic analysis. The antioxidant activity of the plant extract was evaluated using the DPPH, ABTS, phosphomolybdenum, FRAP, and superoxide radical scavenging activity assays, while the antibacterial potential was evaluated using the agar well diffusion assay. The ethanol extract of C. roseus was found to have the highest reducing power. In addition, a 4- to 21-mm-wide zone of inhibition was seen when the C. roseus extract was tested against bacterial and fungal stains. In conclusion, C. roseus has the most promise as an antibacterial and antioxidant agent.

Assessment of Anti-oxidative, Anti-inflammatory, and Anti-cancer Activity of Magnesium Oxide Doped Chitosan/Polyvinyl Alcohol With Catharanthus roseus: An In Vitro Study

Background Recent biomedical research has emphasized the potential of biocomposite materials for medicinal purposes. This work investigates the combination of magnesium oxide (MgO)-doped chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with extracts from Catharanthus roseus, a medicinal plant renowned for its abundant alkaloid content and therapeutic advantages. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer characteristics of this unique biocomposite material are being studied better to understand its prospective uses in biomedicine. Aim The goal of this study is to investigate the in vitro oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties of a biocomposite made of MgO-doped chitosan and PVA, combined with an extract from C. roseus. Materials and methods The biocomposite was made by blending chitosan and PVA in equal proportions and adding MgO nanoparticles to C. roseus extract. The surface morphology was analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antioxidant activity was measured using the H2O2 test, the anti-inflammatory activity was identified using the egg albumin assay, and the anti-cancer activity was analyzed using the MTT assay on MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. In addition, cell morphology investigations were performed to evaluate any alterations after treatment. Results The SEM investigation showed clearly defined and sleek nanoparticles. The biocomposite demonstrated notable antioxidant activity, with inhibition percentages escalating in proportion to the concentration. The anti-inflammatory assays demonstrated inhibition percentages comparable to diclofenac, reaching approximately 90% at the maximum concentration. The MTT experiment revealed that the viability of MCF-7 cells decreased in a manner that was dependent on the dose administered. The IC-50 value, which represents the concentration required to inhibit 50% of cell viability, was determined to be 60 µg/mL. The morphological examinations demonstrated cytotoxic effects, such as cell shrinkage and membrane blebbing, which indicate the successful initiation of apoptosis. Conclusion The biocomposite of chitosan/PVA doped with MgO, combined with C. roseus extract, has shown significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer characteristics. These findings indicate that it has the potential to be used in therapy, particularly for treating illnesses related to oxidative stress, inflammatory disorders, and cancer. Future research should focus on improving formulation and delivery systems for therapeutic applications, with the support of in vivostudies and clinical trials.

Microbial allies: exploring fungal endophytes for biosynthesis of terpenoid indole alkaloids

Terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) are natural compounds found in medicinal plants that exhibit various therapeutic activities, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-helminthic, and anti-tumor properties. However, the production of these alkaloids in plants is limited, and there is a high demand for them due to the increasing incidence of cancer cases. To address this research gap, researchers have focused on optimizing culture media, eliciting metabolic pathways, overexpressing genes, and searching for potential sources of TIAs in organisms other than plants. The insufficient number of essential genes and enzymes in the biosynthesis pathway is the reason behind the limited production of TIAs. As the field of natural product discovery from biological species continues to grow, endophytes are being investigated more and more as potential sources of bioactive metabolites with a variety of chemical structures. Endophytes are microorganisms (fungi, bacteria, archaea, and actinomycetes), that exert a significant influence on the metabolic pathways of both the host plants and the endophytic cells. Bio-prospection of fungal endophytes has shown the discovery of novel, high-value bioactive compounds of commercial significance. The discovery of therapeutically significant secondary metabolites has been made easier by endophytic entities' abundant but understudied diversity. It has been observed that fungal endophytes have better intermediate processing ability due to cellular compartmentation. This paper focuses on fungal endophytes and their metabolic ability to produce complex TIAs, recent advancements in this area, and addressing the limitations and future perspectives related to TIA production.

An overview of the ameliorative efficacy of Catharanthus roseus extract against Cd2+ toxicity: implications for human health and remediation strategies

Rapid industrialization has led to an increase in cadmium pollution, a dangerously toxic heavy metal. Cadmium (Cd) is released into the environment through industrial processes and can contaminate air, water, and soil. This pollution poses a significant risk to human health and has become a pressing concern in many industrialized areas. Due to its extended half-life, it leads to a range of health problems, including hepato-nephritic toxicity, brain damage, and degenerative bone disorders. Intoxication alters various intracellular parameters, leading to inflammation, tissue injury, and oxidative stress within cells, which disrupts normal cellular functions and can eventually result in cell death. It has also been linked to the development of bone diseases such as osteoporosis. These adverse effects highlight the urgent need to address cadmium pollution and find effective solutions to mitigate its impact on human health. This article highlights the Cd-induced risks and the role of Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus) extract as a source of alternative medicine in alleviating the symptoms. Numerous herbal remedies often contain certain bioactive substances, such as polyphenols and alkaloids, which have the power to mitigate these adverse effects by acting as antioxidants and lowering oxidative cell damage. Research conducted in the field of alternative medicine has revealed its enormous potential to meet demands that may be effectively used in safeguarding humans and their environment. The point of this review is to investigate whether C. roseus extract, known for its bioactive substances, is being investigated for its potential to mitigate the harmful effects of cadmium on health. Further investigation is needed to fully understand its effectiveness. Moreover, it is important to explore the potential environmental benefits of using C. roseus extract to reduce the negative effects of Cd. This review conducted in the field of alternative medicine has revealed its enormous potential to meet demands that could have significant implications for both human health and environmental sustainability.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of TCP family genes in Catharanthus roseus

Introduction

The anti-tumor vindoline and catharanthine alkaloids are naturally existed in Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus), an ornamental plant in many tropical countries. Plant-specific TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PCF (TCP) transcription factors play important roles in various plant developmental processes. However, the roles of C. roseus TCPs (CrTCPs) in terpenoid indole alkaloid (TIA) biosynthesis are largely unknown.

Methods

Here, a total of 15 CrTCP genes were identified in the newly updated C. roseus genome and were grouped into three major classes (P-type, C-type and CYC/TB1).

Results

Gene structure and protein motif analyses showed that CrTCPs have diverse intron-exon patterns and protein motif distributions. A number of stress responsive cis-elements were identified in promoter regions of CrTCPs. Expression analysis showed that three CrTCP genes (CrTCP2, CrTCP4, and CrTCP7) were expressed specifically in leaves and four CrTCP genes (CrTCP13, CrTCP8, CrTCP6, and CrTCP10) were expressed specifically in flowers. HPLC analysis showed that the contents of three classic TIAs, vindoline, catharanthine and ajmalicine, were significantly increased by ultraviolet-B (UV-B) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) in leaves. By analyzing the expression patterns under UV-B radiation and MeJA application with qRT-PCR, a number of CrTCP and TIA biosynthesis-related genes were identified to be responsive to UV-B and MeJA treatments. Interestingly, two TCP binding elements (GGNCCCAC and GTGGNCCC) were identified in several TIA biosynthesis-related genes, suggesting that they were potential target genes of CrTCPs.

Discussion

These results suggest that CrTCPs are involved in the regulation of the biosynthesis of TIAs, and provide a basis for further functional identification of CrTCPs.