Green Techniques for the Extraction of Bioactives from Withania Somnifera for Agro-Industrial Potential

The Withania genus encompasses important medicinal plants that have gained much attention due to bioactive compounds such as withanolides and withanosides which possess enormous biological activities. Withania somnifera, a well-recognized family member, has been used in several therapeutic formulations and Ayurvedic preparations. Withanolides are the main constituents of the plant and are also considered the chemotaxonomic markers of the genus. Various processes for extracting and purifying such compounds have been developed using alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solvent systems. The emergence of green extraction processes like supercritical fluid extraction, supercritical water extraction, and several other green methods increase the applications of herbal preparations and reduce the toxicity issues that arise due to restricted solvents. The process involves utilizing water or liquid CO2 under subcritical conditions and exhibits unique solvent properties for making environmentally friendly and alternative conventional extraction methods. The benefits of green extraction focus on how it may selectively extract target molecules with the least amount of organic solvent usage and a smaller environmental impact. The extraction procedure describes various aspects of extraction methods and the yield of phytochemicals. The integration of subcritical green extraction methods into agro-industrial processes is discussed, emphasizing its potential contributions to sustainable agriculture and the development of integrated bio-refineries. This chapter provides a valuable resource for researchers interested in the intersection of green extraction for phytochemicals, waste valorization, and agro-industrial sustainability, mainly emphasizing withanolides and withanolides from Withania somnifera.