Phytochemical profiles of Krishna Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) and Rose Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)

This investigation explored the phytochemical profiles of two medicinal herbs, Ocimum tenuiflorum and Catharanthus roseus. Their leaves were powdered and subjected to ethanolic (polar solvent) withdrawal.  The presence of secondary phytochemicals, such as alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, saponins, glycosides, quinones and steroids were detected in these two medicinal herbs. The GC-MS revealed presence of nine secondary phytochemical metabolites in O. tenuiflorum, of which four have bioactive properties (Phenol, 2-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)-, acetate; N-Hexadecanoicacid; 2-Piperidinone, n-[4-bromo-n-butyl]-; Dotriacontane). The presence of seven secondary metabolic compounds were detected in C. roseus, which four possessed bioactive principles (3-Methylmannoside; Squalene; Pentatriacontane; 2,4,4-Trimethyl-3-hydroxymethyl-5a-(3-methyl-but-2-enyl)-cyclohexene). Thus, these herbs have detectable levels of secondary phytochemicals and their metabolite components. Among these two herbs C. roseus possessed more numbers of detectable secondary phytochemicals.