From Hue to Health: Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Plant-Pigment-Enriched Extracts

The escalating global challenges of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and cancer necessitate innovative therapeutic solutions from natural sources. This study investigated the multifaceted therapeutic potential of pigment-enriched plant extracts. We screened diverse plant extracts for antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria and fungi. <i>Hibiscus sabdariffa</i> emerged as the most promising, demonstrating potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial and significant antibiofilm activity. Sub-inhibitory concentrations of <i>H. sabdariffa</i> robustly downregulated essential bacterial virulence genes and suppressed aflatoxin gene expression. Comprehensive chemical profiling via HPLC identified major anthocyanin glucosides, while GC-MS revealed diverse non-pigment bioactive compounds, including fatty acids and alcohols. Molecular docking suggested favorable interactions of key identified compounds (Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and 1-Deoxy-d-arabitol) with <i>E. coli</i> outer membrane protein A (OmpA), indicating potential antiadhesive and antimicrobial mechanisms. Furthermore, <i>H. sabdariffa</i> exhibited selective cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. These findings establish <i>H. sabdariffa</i> pigment-enriched extract as a highly promising, multi-functional source of novel therapeutics, highlighting its potential for simultaneously addressing drug resistance and cancer challenges through an integrated chemical, biological, and computational approach.