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Antioxidant retention and enhanced activity in the flowering stage of cultivated Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.: a Sustainable alternative to wild harvesting

Author Affiliations

  • 1Dept. of Life-Science, Shri Shankaracharya Professional University, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India

Int. Res. J. Biological Sci., Volume 15, Issue (2), Pages 19-27, May,10 (2026)

Abstract

Cuscuta reflexa Roxb., a parasitic medicinal plant valued for its antioxidant and therapeutic potential, is conventionally collected from wild sources, raising concerns about sustainability and habitat disturbance. This study aims to identify suitable host for the parasitic plant species understudy and to evaluate whether cultivated plant retains comparable antioxidant properties to its wild counterpart as well as to explore stage-specific antioxidant variations, particularly between young and flowering stages. Host screening was done under controlled greenhouse conditions and partially in field environments to simulate natural parasitic growth and to identify host species that support biomass yield of C. reflexa without significantly compromising the host's vitality. On the basis of results, Calotropis procera was selected as the most suitable host for sustainable cultivation, which is supported by several research-backed factors. Sustainably cultivated samples were used to prepare plant extracts in methanol both at pre flowering and flowering stages of their life cycle and referred to as 001 and 002 respectively. The % recovery of the extracts were found to be 24.9% (for 001) 29.4% (for 002). The extracts were subjected to antioxidant assays using DPPH radical scavenging methods, with ascorbic acid as a standard reference. The IC50 values for Ascorbic acid, 001 and 001 extracts were 15.37, 460 and 257µg/ml (under different concentrations). The results revealed that the antioxidant activity of cultivated samples closely paralleled that of wild specimens; studied earlier. It indicated that sustainable cultivation does not compromise phytochemical integrity. Moreover, flowering-stage materials demonstrated significantly higher antioxidant values in cultivated groups.

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