Preparation of Physalis Angulata Water Extract with High Antioxidant Efficacy and Preliminary Toxicological Assessment

Physalis angulata L. is traditionally used for various medicinal purposes; however, its antioxidant efficacy and safety profile remain insufficiently validated. This study aimed to optimize aqueous extraction conditions to obtain an extract with high antioxidant activity and to evaluate its preliminary toxicity. Dried plant material was extracted using water at different temperatures (40–100 °C) and extraction times (15 min–3 h). Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total phenolic content (TPC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) inhibition assays, while phytochemical profiling was performed using HPLC. Toxicity was evaluated using the brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT) and acute oral toxicity in rats. Extraction at 80 °C for 30 min exhibited the highest DPPH inhibition and TPC, while optimal FRAP values were observed at 60–80 °C for 1 h. The lowest MDA levels were recorded at 100 °C for 2 h. HPLC analysis identified chlorogenic acid and rutin as the major phenolic constituents. The extract demonstrated low toxicity in the BSLT, with significant lethality only at high concentrations, and no mortality or adverse effects were observed in rats following acute oral administration. In conclusion, optimized aqueous extracts of P. angulata exhibit strong antioxidant activity with a favorable preliminary safety profile, supporting their potential application as a natural antioxidant source for further development.