IN-VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF LEAF EXTRACT OF CATHARANTHUS ROSEUS

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age- related neurodegenerative disorder linked to oxidative stress and cholinergic dysfunction. Catharanthus roseus (family: Apocynaceae), traditionally used for its antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, was evaluated for its in-vitro antioxidant potential in this study. Methods: Leaves of C.Roseus were collected, authenticated, shade-dried, and extracted using 70% ethanol by Soxhlet method. The ethanolic extract of Catharanthus roseus leaves(EECRL) was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening and antioxidant assays, including DPPH radical scavenging, phosphomolybdate total antioxidant capacity and ferric reducing power assays. Results: Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, carbohydrates, proteins, glycosides, Carbohydrates. The EECRL exhibited significant DPPH radical scavenging activity with an IC50 of 51.49 μg/ml compared to ascorbic acid (IC50 = 12.96 μg/ml). The extract’s antioxidant activity was equivalent to 21.91 μg/ml and 6.87 μg/ml of ascorbic acid in phosphomolybdate and ferric reducing assays, respectively. Conclusion: The ethanolic leaves extract of Catharanthus roseus demonstrates potent, dose- dependent antioxidant activity, supporting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent against oxidative stress-mediated neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.