Unlocking the Bioactive Potential of Capparis multiflora From Northeast India: First-Ever LC-MS Profiling and...

In rural regions, various plant species are still utilized based on empirical knowledge passed down through generations without formal scientific validation. Capparis multiflora Hook.f. & Thomson is one such plant traditionally used in Arunachal Pradesh, India, where the stem is employed as an ethnomedicinal remedy for the treatment of boils and navel infections. The present study aims to scientifically validate the traditional use of C. multiflora stem and leaves. Our study investigates the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities of various extracts obtained from the stem and leaves of C. multiflora, alongside phytochemical profiling using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) analytical techniques. The extracts demonstrated significant antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. Furthermore, HPLC-MS/MS analysis tentatively identified previously reported bioactive antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compounds. These findings collectively provide scientific evidence supporting the traditional use of C. multiflora stem in the management of boils and navel infections. Further studies including wound healing, dermal infection, biofilm inhibition, and in vivo models are required to confirm these effects.