Changes in lipid profile during growth and senescence of Catharanthus roseus leaf

Various lipid classes and compounds were monitored during the period of leaf emergence to leaf drop of Catharanthus roseus. The expansion to early maturation phase was accompanied by cellular build-up of all major lipid classes, whilst aging and senescence were characterized by their substantial decline, except for the neutral lipids; the leaf monogalactosyl diglyceride/digalactosyl diglyceride ratio decreased from 4.3 (complete maturity) to 2.1 (abscised stage). The early maturation stage was the earliest stage when appreciable amounts of free sterols and fatty acids could be observed. Sterol/phospholipids ratios increased by 68-fold in the abscised leaf as compared to that at full maturity. The unsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio was far lower in the senescent leaf as compared to that of the fully expanded leaf. The spatial alterations in lipid profiles may be suggestive of concomitant changes in membrane ultrastructure and functions, putatively leading to perturbation of indole alkaloid sequestration capability of the tissues of a species of pharmaceutical significance.