Root Extracts of Plumeria pudica Jacq. as a Rich Source of Bioactives: Phytochemical, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Insights via LC‐MS/MS Analysis

Background: The rising prevalence of diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease presents significant challenges, especially given the lack of definitive cures. As a result, there has been a marked increase in the demand for herbal remedies that offer minimal to no adverse side effects. In light of this growing concern, pharmacological research increasingly focuses on exploring organic alternatives to conventional medicines. This innovative approach prioritizes the extraction of high‐quality phytochemicals from plants to develop advanced biomedical applications for the treatment of various diseases and medical conditions. Purpose: This research evaluates the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical composition of root extracts from the medicinal plant Plumeria pudica Jacq. Additionally, the study assesses the plant's antioxidant properties and investigates its antimicrobial effects. Methods: The qualitative phytochemical analysis was conducted to identify the presence of various phytochemicals, and their total content was quantified. Additionally, the analysis was enhanced by using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC QTOF MS/MS) to detect specific compounds. Two assays were implemented to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the root extracts: the reducing power assay and the DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) assay. Furthermore, the antimicrobial properties of the root extracts were assessed against four bacterial strains: Escherichia coli , Salmonella enterica , Staphylococcus aureus , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Results: The results of the phytochemical evaluation indicated that both isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and hydroalcoholic (HYA) extracts demonstrated a superior phytochemical profile, highlighting the enhanced extractive potential of HYA in comparison to the nonpolar petroleum ether extract. Quantitative analysis revealed that the HYA extract had the highest concentrations of phenols (91 ± 0.56 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight of root extract) and flavonoids (386 ± 0.61 mg quercetin equivalent/g dry weight of root extract). In contrast, the aqueous extract exhibited higher levels of alkaloids (121.5 ± 0.51 mg caffeine equivalent/g dry weight of root extract) and carbohydrates (345 ± 0.56 mg glucose equivalent/g dry weight of root extract). Additionally, LC‐QTOF MS/MS analysis confirmed the presence of several significant phytocompounds in all root extracts, many of which hold pharmacological potential. In antioxidant assays, the HYA extract demonstrated the highest DPPH scavenging activity, achieving 67.73% inhibition, and an IC 50 value of 35.1996 µg/mL, along with the strongest reducing power measured at 1.203 absorbance. These results indicate substantial antioxidant activity. Furthermore, antimicrobial evaluation revealed that the hydroalcoholic extracts exhibited activity at lower minimum inhibitory concentrations, producing larger zones of inhibition compared to other root extracts. Conclusion: This study concludes that various extracts from the roots of P. pudica exhibit significant qualitative and quantitative phytoconstituent properties, along with strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. This suggests a rich content of bioactive compounds and highlights their potential as novel therapeutic sources.