Dynamicity and extractability of hydro-alcoholic solvents for Tinospora cordifolia stem: an investigation for target-oriented traditional drug discovery based on biologically active phytocompounds

Hydro-alcoholic solvents play a vital role in traditional drug discovery from plants. Phytocompounds extracted from plants using hydro-alcoholic solvents vary with their composition. The selection of solvent composition is one of the most important step towards the successful drug discovery. Tinospora cordifolia is one of the most widely used plant stem for preparation of traditional drug. In present study, stem was extracted with variable ratio of ethanol–water. Resultant extracts were used to determine the highest yield of berberine, total alkaloids, total glycosides and maximum free radical scavenging activity. A simple, precise and robust method was developed in HPLC–DAD for quantification of berberine. Total alkaloids and total glycosides were determined by measuring the absorption of alkaloid-bromocresol green coloured complex using UV–vis spectrophotometer and by gravimetric analysis, respectively. Radical scavenging assay was studied through DPPH· (diphenylpicrylhydrazyl). The experiments revealed that despite of having highest extractive value (7.90%) in 50:50 hydro-alcoholic extract, alkaloid (3.69%) and glycoside (5.69%) contents are highest in 60:40 hydro-alcoholic and aqueous medium, respectively. The work suggests that 60:40 hydro-alcoholic extraction is suitable for alkaloid rich drug discovery while aqueous extraction is best choice for glycoside rich drug discovery.