Data on GC-MS analysis, in vitro anti-oxidant and anti-microbial activity of the Catharanthus roseus and Moringa oleifera leaf extracts

Abstract

The article reports data on chemical profiling by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of Madagascar periwinkle (<i>Catharanthus roseus</i>) and drumstick tree (<i>Moringa oleifera</i>) and on their antioxidant and antibacterial effects against three clinical human pathogens. In total 105 compounds were tentatively identified; in which 65 in <i>Catharanthus roseus</i> and 40 in <i>Moringa oleifera</i> compounds. A large number of peaks with good area percentage was found in methanolic extract of <i>Catharanthus roseus</i> with core chemical constituents such as <i>trans</i>-squalene, n-hexadecanoic acid, Eicosyl acetate, stearin, 1H-Benz(G)indole-3-carboxylic acid. The corresponding constituents from <i>Moringa oleifera</i> include 9-Octadecenoic acid (z)-, Heptadecanoic acid and phytol acetate. The highest scavenging activity (87.7% at 200 μg/mL) was shown by DPPH aqueous leaf extract of <i>C. roseus</i>. Moreover, the methanolic scavenging of both plant extracts was in the order of FRAP>DPPH>NO> H₂O₂ with lowest antioxidant activity (51.4% at 200 μg/mL) exposed by <i>Catharanthus roseus</i> in comparison of all cases. Good antibacterial action was examined against three different organisms (<i>E.coli, B. subtilis</i> and <i>S. aureus</i>) of aqueous infusion of <i>Catharanthus roseus</i>.