Effect of Chromium on Antioxidant Potential ofCatharanthus roseusVarieties and Production of Their Anticancer Alkaloids: Vincristine and Vinblastine

Abstract

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don, a medicinal plant, has a very important place in the traditional as well as modern pharmaceutical industry. Two common varieties of this plant rosea and alba are named so because of pink and white coloured flowers, respectively. This plant comprises of about 130 terpenoid indole alkaloids and two of them, vincristine and vinblastine, are common anticancer drugs. The effect of chromium (Cr) on enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant components and on secondary metabolites vincristine and vinblastine was studied under pot culture conditions of both varieties of C. roseus. Antioxidant responses of these varieties were analyzed under 0, 10, 50, and 100 μM chromium (Cr) level in order to investigate the plant's protective mechanisms against Cr induced oxidative stress. The results indicated that Cr affects all the studied parameters and decreases growth performance. However, vincristine and vinblastine contents were increased under Cr stress. Results are quite encouraging, as this plant shows good antioxidant potential and increased the level of active constituents under Cr stress.

Effect of cobalt nanoparticles and cobalt ions on alkaloids production and expression of CrMPK3 gene in Catharanthus roseus suspension cultures

“…Alkaloids accumulation recorded following stressful Co 2+ treatments is a defense response against oxidative stress (13). It was recorded in C. roseous following exposure to different types of stress including heavy metals (14)(15)(16)(17), drought (53) and fungal attack (54).…”

“…As a consequence, the biosynthesis of reduced compounds including isoprenoids, phenols or alkaloids, is enhanced (13). The potentialities of heavy metals in enhancing alkaloids production in C. roseus were recorded using Cd (14), Mn, Ni, and Pb (15), Hg (16) and Cr (17).…”

Chromium Bioaccumulation and Its Impacts on Plants: An Overview

“…may also contribute in modulating resistance against Cr toxicity and protect the macromolecules from the free radicals generated during the oxidative burst [77]. In one of the reports, carotenoids, non-protein thiol (NP-SH) and cysteine level increased in the plants subjected to Cr [72].…”

“…Foliar content of chlorophyll pigments including total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a (Chl a) and chlorophyll b (Chl b) were assayed under Cr treatment, which showed significant decrease in pigment accumulation of Catharanthus roseus plants [72]. This could be due to the inhibition of chlorophyll biosynthesis under Cr stress [73,74].…”

8‐Hydroxyquinoline‐Methionine Mixed Ligands Metal Complexes: Preparation and Their Antioxidant Activity

“…While ligand L 2 with (IC 50 = 85.4 ± 0.22) shown greater activity. Compound 1 displayed greater activity in all compounds (IC 50 = 90.4 ± 0.76) because of H‐ bonding and transfer of electron Compound 2 found to be inactive and displayed very less activity at > 200 μM.…”