Investigating the Medicinal Potential of Lavatera cashmeriana Leaf Extract: Phytochemical Profiling and In Vitro Evaluation of Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Anticancer Activities

This study investigated the medicinal potential of , a plant traditionally known for its therapeutic properties. The aim was to identify the phytocompounds in leaf extract and evaluate its antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis was employed to characterize the phytochemical composition of the ethanol extract derived from leaves. The antimicrobial potential was assessed through the well diffusion technique, targeting , , , , and . The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay was conducted to assess antioxidant capabilities, while cytotoxicity against the A549 cancer cell line was determined via the MTT assay. GC-MS analysis identified ten different compounds, with phytol, 1-Eicosanol, and 2,6,10-trimethyl,14-ethylene-14-pentadecne being the most prevalent. The extract exhibited notable antimicrobial efficacy against all bacteria with MIC values ranging from 62.5 to 250 g/mL. However, did not respond. The extract exhibited antioxidative properties with an IC value of 86 g/mL and cytotoxicity with an IC value of 69.95 g/mL against the A549 cancer cell line. The results derived from this study supported the historical use of as a medicinal plant and suggested that it can potentially treat a wide range of medical ailments. The identified phytocompounds and the demonstrated antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer effects provide scientific evidence for its medicinal properties. However, further investigations are needed to fully understand its safety profile, efficacy, and mechanism of action before recommending it for therapeutic purposes.