GC–MS characterization and evaluation of antimicrobial, anticancer and wound healing efficiency of combined ethanolic extract of Tridax procumbens and Acalypha indica

Abstract

Two weeding plants namely Tridax procumbens (TP) and Acalypha indica (AI) were studied for their profound wound healing property, antimicrobial activity, and cytotoxicity. The topical formulation is based on the combined ethanolic crude extract of the weeds. The research aims to find the various phytochemicals present in the combinational extract and to evaluate the most abundant phytochemicals present in the combinational extract that provides the best pharmacological activity towards the profound wound healing by gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC–MS) and to evaluate the extent of wound healing property of the combinational extract by MTT assay for cell cytotoxicity. The GC–MS showed the presence of 50 compounds in the combined extract and the presence of a novel phenol, 2-(imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)phenol which is an inflammatory cytokine release inhibitor reported for the first time in the paper. The agar well diffusion method showed an inhibition zone value of 8.5 ± 1.5 mm for a concentration of 500 µg/ml of the combined extract against the E. coli bacteria establishing the antibacterial property of the combinational extract. The MTT assay showed an IC50 = 216.45 µg/ml. Overall, the results of this study showed potential antimicrobial and would healing effects of combined ethanolic extracts of TP and AI.