Abstract

COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF PROXIMATE AND MINERAL COMPOSITION IN LEAVES AND FLOWERS OF CATHARANTHUS ROSEUS (SADABAHAR)-A MAGICAL HERB

Sharma K., Akansha, Choudhary S. and Chauhan E. S.*

Abstract

Current study is aimed for determining proximate and mineral composition of the leaves and flowers of Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus) due to the plant's wide application in the indigenous medicinal system and its chemical constituents' importance. Although overall parts of the plant are found to be beneficial and used as an important medicine but the flower and leaves of Catharanthus roseus are widely used as a vital drug from the ancient system of medicine to treat almost every common ailment of the humans. In the present study, the proximate and mineral analysis has been carried out by AOAC methods using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The Catharanthus roseus leaves and flower showed the presence of important elements. The results showed that the leaves of Catharanthus roseus have high moisture content (15.72 mg/100g), ash (8.94 mg/100g) and high protein content (4.74 mg/100g) than flowers. The results for mineral analysis showed the presence of Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Iron (Fe) and Zinc (Zn) in both leaves and flowers. The most important finding of the work was that leaves of Catharanthus roseus revealed higher concentration levels of all minerals excluding Fe and Zn. The proximate composition in both leaves and flowers of Catharanthus roseus were found to be different. Therefore, different parts of this medicinal plant are enriched in some micro and macro nutrients like Iron (Fe), Calcium (Ca), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K) and Zinc (Zn) which are very important for biological metabolic system as well as human health.

Keywords: Catharanthus Roseus, Minerals, Proximate, Metabolic System, Nutrition.