Anti-cancer, anti-microbial and anti-oxidant properties of Acacia nilotica and their chemical profiling

•Chemical constituents of Acacia nilotica leaves were investigated.•Identification of phytochemical components by GC-MS and antioxidant activities.•Leaves extracts of A. nilotica showed antimicrobial activity against nine microorganisms.•Acetone and methanol extract of A. nilotica showed anti-cancer activity.

The plant leaf extracts of Acacia nilotica were investigated for its antibacterial activity, antioxidant activity, anticancer activity and their chemical profiling. The gram positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 737, Bacillus subtilis MTCC 441, Bacillus megaterium MTCC 441, Bacillus cereus MTCC 6840, Bacillus aryabhattai MTCC 14579 and gram negative bacteria like Pseudomonas putida MTCC 1194, Escherichia coli MTCC 1302, Klebsiella pneumoniae MTCC 4727, Serratia marcescens MTCC 4822 were tested for their sensitivity towards methanol, ethanol, acetone and chloroform extracts of A. nilotica. Gram positive bacteria were highly sensitive for all the extracts tested, whereas gram negative bacteria showed less sensitive. A. nilotica extracts were able to scavenge the DPPH radicals in the order of acetone < methanol < ethanol < chloroform. The acetone and methanol extract of A. nilotica was observed to be an effective anti-bacterial and antioxidant agent compare to other extracts. We tested both acetone and methanol extract for anti-cancer activity on MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer), HEp-2 (cervical cancer), and normal vero cells, the result found that both acetone and methanol extract for A. nilotica showed significant MDA-MB-231 and HEp-2 cell death by sparing normal vero cells. Interestingly, GC-MS analysis chemical profiling revealed the presence of potent active principle compound which might be possible reason to exhibit anti-bacterial, antioxidant and anti-cancer activity.