Despite its limited exploration, Nymphaea mexicana Zucc. can be beneficial if pharmacology, isolation, and biological evaluation are given attention. It is an aquatic species that belongs to the family Nymphaeaceae. The thrust area of the work was the extraction, isolation, and biological evaluation of different extracts of the N. mexicana Zucc. plant. The primary goal of this research was to assess the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of the extracts and to isolate the target naringenin compound. Comparative FT IR analysis of different extracts of this plant revealed the presence of functional groups of plant secondary metabolites, including polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, esters, amines, glycosides, alkanes, alkaloids, fatty acids, and alcohols. Moderate free radical scavenging potential has been achieved for the various extracts via reducing power and DPPH assays. While cytotoxic activity was evaluated by colorimetric and lactate dehydrogenase cell viability tests on potent cancer cell lines. Lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cells (A-549), and breast cells (MC-7) were treated with MeOH extract. The antimicrobial activity against bacterial strains was evaluated using Gram-positive and -negative cultures, where maximum and minimum inhibition zones were recorded for different strains, including 1.6–25.6 μg/mL for Streptococcus aureus, using the agar well diffusion method. In addition, the anti-inflammatory activity of different extracts of N. mexicana Zucc. was evaluated in a nitrite radical scavenging assay with high concentrations of secondary metabolites, which are important against human pathogens and other diseases.

This study investigates the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Arisaema propinquum, a medicinal herb from the Pir Panjal range of the Kashmir Himalayas. Caffeic acid was isolated and characterized from methanolic extracts of its aerial parts. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the presence of functional groups indicative of polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, esters, and other metabolites. In vitro antioxidant activity was assessed using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic, and deoxyribose degradation assays. The deoxyribose assay showed dose-dependent inhibition of 63.2%, 69.7%, and 80.3% at concentrations of 100, 150, and 200 µg/mL, respectively, while the methanolic extract exhibited an IC₅₀ of 49.74 µg/mL in the H₂O₂ scavenging assay. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were quantified as 40.33 ± 1.9 mg GAE/g DW and 32.77 ± 1.35 mg rutin equivalent/g DW, respectively. In vivo antioxidant activity was evaluated using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where the extract supported 76.17 ± 0.58% cell survival under oxidative stress. The findings suggest that the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of A. propinquum are attributable to its rich phytochemical profile, supporting its potential in therapeutic applications.