Functional attributes of polyphenol-rich Woodfordia fruticosa extract: An active ingredient in traditional Indian medicine with nutraceutical potential.

The focus of research in recent years has been scientific documentation and validation of the therapeutic
properties of medicinal plants traditionally used in alternative systems of medicine. The present study aimed to
select a potential medicinal plant, traditionally used in the Indian system of medicine, especially in the treatment
of gastrointestinal ailments, evaluate it for functional attributes including stimulation of probiotic bacterial
growth, characterize the phytochemical constituents and thus provide possible evidence for their therapeutic use.
Initially, hot water extracts of six plants were prepared and analyzed for total phenolic content, antioxidant
property, and probiotic (Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 and MCC 2034) growth stimulatory activity. The
selected extract was further assessed for additional bioactivities and characterized for polyphenolic constituents
by UHPLC/HRMS. From preliminary results, Woodfordia fruticosa extract (WfE) rich in polyphenols (218.52 mg
GAE/g of extract), appreciable DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 0.243 mg/mL), and exhibiting dose�dependent probiotic growth stimulatory property was selected. Further evaluation of WfE showed high anti�oxidant ability as observed by FRAP (202.42 + 27 μM Trolox equivalents/g) and ORAC assay (291.702 ± 22.62/
mM Trolox equivalents/g). WfE also showed tyrosinase (IC50 = 17.5 ± 2.99 μg/mL) and alpha-glucosidase (IC50
= 54.94 + 1.28 μg/mL) inhibitory activity. Polyphenol characterization revealed gallic acid as a major
component with quercetin, ellagic acid, and cyanidin 3-glucoside. This study provides evidence for the tradi�tional use of W. fruticosa in several Ayurvedic formulations, especially fermentation-based, targeting various
diseases. Furthermore, it opens avenues towards the use of WfE as a functional ingredient in the preparation of
synbiotic formulations or functional foods, targeting host health.