Antibacterial Properties and Phytochemical Profile of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius: A Natural Approach to Synbiotic Therapy for PCOS

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder affecting 6% to 20% of women of reproductive age and is commonly associated with infertility, obesity, and insulin resistance.Emerging evidence implicates gut microbiota dysbiosis in the pathophysiology of PCOS, highlighting the potential of microbiometargeted therapies using probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics.This study evaluates the phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Elephant Foot Yam) extracts, traditionally used in medicinal applications, to explore their potential for gut microbiome modulation.Extracts prepared using ethanol, petroleum ether, and hexane were screened for key bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, and tannins.Antibacterial efficacy was assessed against gut-associated bacteria: Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Shigella dysenteriae, and Enterobacter aerogenes.The ethanol extract demonstrated significant phytochemical richness and antibacterial activity comparable to ciprofloxacin.Importantly, selective antibacterial action was observed, with minimal inhibition of beneficial probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus spp.isolated from yogurt and curd, contrasting with the broad-spectrum inhibition by ciprofloxacin.These findings suggest that A. paeoniifolius ethanol extracts hold promise as natural agents for selective modulation of gut microbiota and the development of synbiotic formulations aimed at managing PCOS and improving gut-hormonal health.