Comprehensive investigation of antibacterial, cytotoxic, and antioxidant activities of Ipomoea staphylina flower extract with isolation and characterization of Beta-sitosterol

This study aims to bridge the gap by scientifically investigating the ethnopharmacological evidence surrounding the I. staphylina plant. In this research we evaluated the antibacterial and cytotoxic abilities of I. staphylina flower extracts. The extract with the highest antioxidant activity underwent cytotoxicity testing against HCT-116 cells. Further analysis confirmed the presence of Beta-sitosterol through HPTLC, followed by its isolation via column chromatography. Antibacterial tests showed significant activity against various gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, with notable resistance against S. aureus, P. mirabilis, and P. aeruginosa. The IPFPE extract exhibited the highest inhibition against S. aureus (16 mm) and P. mirabilis (15 mm), while ethanolic extract showed potent activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa (16 mm, 15 mm). The anticancer study, using ethanolic and pet-ether extracts on HCT-116 colon cancer cells and assessed via the MTT assay, revealed significant reductions in cell viability due to apoptosis induced by secondary metabolites (Beta-sitosterol) and antioxidants. A significant reduction in cell viability was observed, with IC₅₀ values of 51.44 µM (IPFE) and 52.74 µM (IPFPE), a 50 % growth inhibition was observed, highlighting vigorous pro-apoptotic activity. These results underscore the potential of I. staphylina flower extracts as promising antibacterial and chemotherapeutic agents, warranting further research to validate their efficacy.