Become A Member

Background: Bauhinia purpurea Linn. (Fabaceae), ethnopharmacologically designated as Kovidara in Ayurvedic medicine, is a therapeutic botanical utilized in treating chronic inflammatory disorders, dermatological pathologies, and glandular lymphadenopathy. While its broad pharmacological profile is documented, the impact of seasonal ontogeny on its cortical phytochemical architecture and concurrent bioactivities remains poorly characterized.

Methodology: This study systematically evaluated the influence of seasonal fluctuations on the pharmacognostic, physicochemical, and phytochemical profiles of B. purpurea bark harvested during the rainy (August), winter (December), and summer (April) seasons from a singular geographic cohort in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. Quantitative spectrophotometric assays determined total tannin, total phenolic (TPC), and total flavonoid contents (TFC). Chromatographic fingerprinting was executed via Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC). In vitro antioxidant dynamics were quantified using DPPH and FRAP assays, while anti-inflammatory kinetics were appraised via human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization and bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein denaturation assays.

Results: The phytochemical topology and biofunctional potency of B. purpurea bark exhibited profound seasonal dependency. Winter-harvested cohorts (December) demonstrated significantly elevated alcohol-soluble extractive values, maximizing both TPC and TFC yields. Chromatographic profiling via TLC/HPTLC revealed heightened molecular complexity and superior resolution of secondary metabolite bands in winter extracts relative to rainy and summer counterparts. Mechanistically, the winter-collected biomass exhibited the highest accumulation of polyphenolic compounds, while environmental stress factors during the transitional periods altered the IC₅₀ kinetics for DPPH radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory assays across seasons.

Conclusion: These findings elucidate a distinct biophysiological rhythm in B. purpurea, wherein the biosynthesis and accumulation of bioactive polyphenolic and flavonoid secondary metabolites peak during the winter season, establishing a definitive ontogenetic window and optimal harvesting schedule for securing premium-grade raw botanical material.

Keywords: Bauhinia purpurea Linn.; Kovidara; seasonal variation; phytochemical standardization; HPTLC fingerprinting; antioxidant activity; anti-inflammatory activity.