Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of a Traditional Polyherbal Formulation Containing Citrus limon, Bergera koenigii, Citrus medica and Andrographis paniculata

Abstract

Background Polyherbal formulations combining medicinal plants are widely studied for their enhanced therapeutic potential. Materials and Methods This study evaluates a polyherbal formulation containing leaves of Citrus limon, Bergera koenigii, Citrus medica, and Andrographis paniculata for its antimicrobic and antioxidative properties. An ethanolic extract was examined to determine its phytochemical composition, which revealed a rich existence of bioactive substances like bioflavonoids, alkali-like compounds, phenolics, and Steroidal glycoalkaloids. Results In vitro Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), including DPPH radical, FRAP and scavenging of nitric oxide, exhibited significant radical-neutralizing capacities comparable to standard antioxidants. The formulation also exhibited potent antibacterial action against strains of fungi and bacteria, both gram-positive and gram-negative, suggesting a synergistic enhancement of efficacy due to the combination of plant extracts. Conclusion The outcomes highlight the prospect of this polyherbal extract as a natural therapeutic agent to treat microbial infections and oxidative stress. The future studies should focus upon in vivo evaluations and elucidating molecular mechanisms to validate these promising results.

Keywords: Polyherbal Formulation; Phytochemicals; Oxidative Stress; Natural Therapeutics