molecules Article The Phytochemical Analysis of Vinca L. Species Leaf Extracts Is Correlated with the Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Antitumor Effects 1,2, 3 3 1 1 Alexandra Ciorît, ă * , Cezara Zăgrean-Tuza , Augustin C. Mot, , Rahela Carpa and Marcel Pârvu 1 Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes, -Bolyai University, 44 Republicii St., 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
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[email protected]; Tel.: +40-264-584-037 Abstract: The phytochemical analysis of Vinca minor, V. herbacea, V. major, and V. major var. variegata leaf extracts showed species-dependent antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic effects correlated with the identified phytoconstituents. Vincamine was present in V. minor, V. major, and V. major var. variegata, while V. minor had the richest alkaloid content, followed by V. herbacea. V. major var. variegata was richest in flavonoids and the highest total phenolic content was found in V. herbacea which also had elevated levels of rutin. Consequently, V. herbacea had the highest antioxidant activity V. major variegata V. major V. minor followed by var. Whereas, the lowest one was of . The extract showed the most efficient inhibitory effect against both Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. On the other hand, V. herbacea had a good anti-bacterial potential only against S.