MULTI-SOLVENT EXTRACTION-DRIVEN PROFILING OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS AND COMPARATIVE ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF FRESH AND DRY TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA STEMS

Abstract

Objectives: Tinospora cordifolia, a medicinal plant, was widely used as traditional therapeutics, but the phytochemicals and bioactivities remained underexplored in a comparative fresh versus dry stem context using advanced analytical approaches. Using a combination of analytical and biological methods, T. cordifolia’s phytochemical content and bioactive potential were examined. Standard phytochemical screening and spectroscopic, chromatographic, and biological assay methods were used in this study. Methods: The total phenolic and flavonoid content of T. cordifolia fresh and dry stems was quantitatively estimated. Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used for functional group analysis, while gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis were employed for chemical constituent identification, and the antioxidant property of T. cordifolia stem was analyzed by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and phosphomolybdenum tests. The antimicrobial assay was assessed in relation to particular strains of bacteria and fungi. Results: Phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, and glycosides were found by quantitative analysis. While GC-MS profiling revealed a complex composition of fatty acid esters, phytosterols, terpenoids, and alkaloids, FTIR analysis confirmed amine, hydroxyl, and carbonyl moieties’ presence. Particularly in polar extracts, the DPPH and phosphomolybdenum assays and antimicrobial study demonstrated strong concentration-dependent action, superior radical scavenging capacity, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential, respectively. Conclusion: The results support the traditional medicinal usage of T. cordifolia because of its high bioactivity, antibacterial properties, and abundance of natural antioxidants. The research offers a comprehensive phytochemical and bioactivity profile of T. cordifolia, integrating spectroscopic, chromatographic, and biological analyses. It highlights the plant’s potential for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications and lays the foundation for future studies on compound isolation, mechanism elucidation, and in vivo validation.