Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND PHYTOCHEMICALS PROFILE IN YELLOW OLEANDER IN VITRO AND IN VIVO CULTURES

Siham A. Salim

Abstract

The current study is to compare between the callus extract and the natural plant leaves extract of the yellow oleander (Thevetia neriifolia Juss.) in the antioxidant activity and their contents of the phytochemicals by GC/MS analysis. Results showed that MS medium equipped with 4.52μM 2,4-D + 1.33μM BA was the best in the percentage of callogenesis (100%), fresh weight (964mg) and dry weight (98 mg) of the induced callus from internodes. The methanolic extract of callus had a significant free radicals scavenging activity through the method of DPPH free radical compared to leaves extract. IC50 for callus extract was 68μg.mL-1, it was better to IC50 leaves extract (= 97 μg.mL-1). Furthermore, GC/MS analysis revealed that there were 28 phytochemicals in the callus extract more than in the leaves extract (15). The most important compounds that have been diagnosed are vitamin E , Oleic acid, beta-Sitosterol alpha and beta-Amyrins, which possess antioxidant properties. It can be concluded from this study the importance of callus in the production of various bioactive phytochemicals compared to natural plants and also to keep the plant environment from damage to get these phytochemicals.