Phytochemical profiling, HPLC analysis, and antimicrobial potential of Curio radicans (L. f.) P.V. Heath

Medicinal plants are dynamic reservoirs of bioactive molecules, offering immense potential for novel therapeutic discoveries. This study explores the phytochemical and antimicrobial potential of Curio radicans through detailed qualitative, quantitative, and HPLC analysis. Phytochemical screening revealed the ethanolic extract to be particularly rich in alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins, lipids, and phenols, whereas the ethyl acetate extract showed higher concentrations of phenolics and flavonoids. Quantitative estimations confirmed that the ethanolic extract possessed significantly higher levels of alkaloids (7.76 mg/g), flavonoids (7.60 mg/g), and tannins (10.32 mg/g) compared to the ethyl acetate extract (3.51, 1.33, and 2.56 mg/g, respectively). HPLC profiling further supported these findings, identifying abundant phenolic acids and flavonoids with well-documented pharmacological relevance. The ethanolic extract contained catechin, fumaric acid, hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, and salicylic acid, while the ethyl acetate extract was enriched with vanillin, protocatechuic acid, ellagic acid, caffeic acid, and p-coumaric acid. Antimicrobial assays demonstrated remarkable dose-dependent inhibition against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with Escherichia coli being highly susceptible (17.40 ± 1.15 mm). Fungal strains, particularly Aspergillus niger, also showed significant sensitivity (15.27 ± 0.39 mm). Collectively, these results validate the ethnomedicinal importance of C. radicans and underscore its potential as a natural source of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical development.