Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF CATHARANTHUS ROSEUS.

Stessy Ann Punnen*, Maleeka Begum S. F. and Kalyan Kumar

ABSTRACT

Catharanthus roseus is one of the medicinal native Madagascar and commonly distributed in various regions of Asian continent and worldwide. The plant is used as an anti-helminthic, anti-ulcer, hypotensive, anti-diarrheal, phytoremediation, antitumor etc., The present study aims to evaluate the anticancer activity of ethanolic extract of Catharanthus roseus leaves on the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, antimicrobial properties and the phytochemical analysis of the extract. A phytochemical screening of the major constituents of the aforesaid plant revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoid, alkaloid, quinone, terpenoid, coumarins. Further, the ethanolic extract was tested for its anti-microbial activities where the maximum zone of inhibition (21mm) was observed in Escherichia coli at a concentration of 5mg/ml and 16mm zone of inhibition against Bacillus subtillus at a concentration of 5mg/ml. MTT assay confirmed the anticancer activity of the ethanolic extract. Thus antimicrobial and anticancer potency of the leaves of Catharanthus roseus was proved.

Keywords: Catharanthus roseus, phytochemical screening, antibacterial, anticancer, MTT assay.