Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Root and Leaf Extracts of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

The present study investigated the phytochemical composition and antioxidant potential of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) root and leaf extracts prepared using different solvent systems. A 2 × 4 factorial experiment was conducted at VISTAS, Chennai, during 2024-2025, with plant part (roots and leaves) and extraction solvent (aqueous, 70% ethanol, 70% methanol, and acetone:water 70:30 v/v) as factors. Extract yields, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activities were evaluated. Among the extraction methods, 70% methanol and 70% ethanol yielded significantly higher extract recovery (13.00 ± 0.40% and 12.40 ± 0.39%, respectively) than aqueous and acetone: water extractions. The highest TPC (72.64 ± 2.18 mg GAE/g) and TFC (34.11 ± 1.26 mg QE/g) were recorded in leaf extracts obtained with 70% methanol, followed by 70% ethanol. Antioxidant assays demonstrated that methanolic and ethanolic extracts exhibited the strongest radical scavenging and reducing power, as indicated by lower DPPH IC₅₀ (92.68 ± 2.41 μg/mL and 98.47 ± 2.58 μg/mL), higher ABTS TEAC (224.65 ± 5.10 and 210.23 ± 4.78 μmol Trolox/g), and elevated FRAP values (302.14 ± 5.62 and 291.75 ± 5.24 μmol Fe²⁺/g). The results indicate that 70% methanol is the most efficient extraction solvent for recovering bioactive constituents from W. somnifera leaves, suggesting its potential for developing natural antioxidant formulations and phytopharmaceutical applications.