Phytochemical characterization and in vitro assessment of antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activities of Persicaria capitata

The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of the global population relies on herbal medicine, with 40% of pharmaceuticals derived from medicinal plants. Persicaria capitata, a medicinal plant with significant therapeutic potential, was analysed for its phytochemical composition and biological activities. This study assessed its antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic properties using advanced techniques. Antioxidant activity, evaluated through DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and phosphomolybdenum assays, confirmed strong activity in acetone (AW) and methanol (MW) extracts. Antibacterial tests showed AW and MW inhibited Escherichia coli (16 ± 1 mm, 14.5 ± 0.5 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (16.5 ± 0.5 mm, 16 ± 0 mm). AW exhibited superior antioxidant and antibacterial effects. GC–MS analysis of AW extract identified major bioactive compounds, including n-Hexadecanoic acid (19.76%) and Oleic acid (8.28%). Cytotoxicity evaluation via the MTT assay revealed AW extract possess strong anticancer activity, significantly inhibiting HeLa and MCF-7 cell growth. These findings highlight P. capitata as a valuable source of bioactive compounds with promising applications in antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer therapies, supporting its potential role in modern medicine.