Phytochemical, antioxidant, and anticancer properties of Parkinsonia aculeata L.: An insight into its bioactive potential

The present study involves the phytochemical, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of Parkinsonia aculeata leaf ethanol extract using High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and bioautographic analysis. HPTLC fingerprinting revealed twelve bands observed under long-wave UV light (366nm), suggesting a complex chemical composition. Bioautographic analysis demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with distinct inhibition zones at specific Rf values. The antioxidant activity was confirmed through the DPPH assay, where cream-colored bands at Rf 0.27 and 0.19 indicated free radical scavenging properties. Additionally, the anticancer potential of the extract was evaluated against THP-1 leukemia cells, showing a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect with cell viability reductions up to 20% at 500 µg/ml. The findings highlight the presence of bioactive phytochemicals in P. aculeate methanolic extract, which may contribute to its therapeutic potential as anticancer agent. Further studies are required to isolate and characterize the active compounds and elucidate their mechanisms of action.