S-adenosyl-L-methionine, trehalose and oleanolic acid in few plants

S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (AdoMet), S-Adenosyl- L-Homocysteine (AdoHcy), adenosine, trehalose and oleanolic acid were measured in six medicinal herbs and three spices. The findings showed that AdoMet content was forty six fold higher in the leaves of Catharanthus roseus as compared with average AdoMet content of rest of the plants. In comparison to other plants, Withania somnifera had very high AdoHcy: Ado-Met and adenosine: AdoMet ratios indicating it may have contained high AdoMet. Trehalose was found to be twenty fold and nine fold higher in bulb of Allium cepa and root of Withania somnifera respectively with respect to average trehalose content of rest of the plants. Ocimum sanctum appeared to be a rich source of oleanolic acid. It appeared from our study that Catharanthus roseus, Allium cepa and Ocimum sanctum could be utilized as natural sources of AdoMet, trehalose and oleanolic acid respectively.