Investigating the Electrochemical Properties of Alkaloids Compound Derived from Catharanthus Roseus Extract

Abstract

The Catharanthus roseus plant was extracted and converted to nanoparticles in this work. The Soxhlet method was used to extract alkaloid compounds from the Catharanthus roseus plant and converted them to the nanoscale. Chitosan polymer was used as a linking material and converted to Chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs). The extracted alkaloids were linked with Chitosan nanoparticles by maleic anhydride to get the final product (CSNPs-Linker-alkaloids). The pure Chitosan, Chitosan nanoparticles, and CSNPs-Linker-alkaloids were characterized by X-ray diffractometer, and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. X-ray results show that all samples have an orthorhombic structure with crystallite size in nanodimensions. FTIR spectra prove that the P=O is the cross-linkage between chitosan and phosphate groups by ionic bond, which indicate that the Chitosan nanoparticle has been formed in the solution. FTIR spectrum for CSNPs - Linker - alkaloids appear a new distinct band at 1708.93 cm-1 which demonstrates the presence of C = O esterification. Atomic Force Microscope images of the Chitosan nanoparticles and CSNPs-Linker-alkaloids show that they have almost spherical shapes with average sizes of 90 and 92.6 nm respectively. The electroactive surface area of glassy carbon electrodes (GCE), extract plant, and Linker-alkaloids were calculated in KCl solution containing K3[Fe (CN)6]. The presence of CSNPs-Linker-alkaloids in modified glassy carbon electrodes about 3 times. The successful synthesis of organic nanoparticles from the Catharanthus roseus plant can be used safely in biosensors, environmental monitoring, and biomedical applications.