Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

Exercise and high physical activity induced muscle stiffness is a multifactorial condition characterized by impaired calcium handling, lactic acid accumulation, oxidative stress and inflammation, leading to reduced muscle elasticity, pain and impaired performance. The growing interest in natural therapeutic interventions has emphasized the need to identify bioactive compounds with multifunctional properties for muscle health. This study aimed to identify and prioritize phytotherapeutic plants with protective effects against muscle stiffness by integrating traditional bioprospection with computational screening. Ethnopharmacological literature was systematically reviewed to identify medicinal plants traditionally used for muscle related disorders. Ten key bioactivity parameters associated with muscle recovery, including performance enhancement, anti inflammatory activity, antioxidant activity, muscle relaxation, blood flow improvement, collagen synthesis, energy production, muscle repair and remodeling, immune support and pain relief were used to evaluate the selected plants. The selected phytotherapeutic plants were comparatively assessed and ranked based on their overall potential across these functional attributes. Among the twenty-five medicinal plants evaluated, Curcuma longa, Rhodiola rosea, Moringa oleifera, Citrus limon, and Aloe barbadensis demonstrated the highest multifunctional potential, with Curcuma longa emerged as the most promising phytotherapeutic plants owing to its broad spectrum of bioactive constituents. These findings demonstrated that, integrating traditional knowledge with computational screening is an effective approach for prioritizing multifunctional natural bioactive compounds with potential applications in nutraceutical development for muscle stiffness prevention and postexercise recovery.