Total Flavonoids and Phenolics in Catharanthus roseus L. and Ocimum sanctum L. as Biomarkers of Urban Auto Pollution

Present transplant study was carried out across Lucknow, the capital of Utter Pardesh using two medicinally important plants viz., “Catharanthus roseus L.” and “Ocimum sanctum L.” to assess whether certain ecophysiological responses (change in total flavonoids and total phenolics) in these two plants may serve as the biomarkers of auto exhaust pollution. Samples were taken from five different sites which differed from each other in terms of the number and type of vehicles plying over and were loaded with different concentrations of air pollutants (such as, SO2, NO2, SPM, RSPM). During the study, it was observed that the concentration of the different air pollutants across the sites correlated with the number and type of vehicles. Total flavonoids and total phenolics in both plants increased by increasing pollution loads across the sites, hence, this validates their role as biomarkers of auto exhaust pollution.