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Bixa orellana (B. Orellana) is a frequently utilized plant that has grown in significance in pharmaceutical applications. The leaves extract of B. orellana was used in the current study for preliminary phytochemical analysis in terms of both quantitative and qualitative, which indicates the presence of phenols, alkaloids, and flavonoids. Furthermore, the extract demonstrated antifungal activity at 30 mm zone of clearance against Candida albicans and antibacterial activity at 16 mm zone of clearance against Bacillus nakamuria by well diffusion method against different strains. The plant extract showed a MIC of 20 µg/mL and MBC of 157.11 µg/mL against E. coli by ELISA and broth dilution method, respectively. To evaluate the phytochemicals in the extract, further purification of the extract by TLC, column chromatography, and component analysis by GC–MS, which reported 18 components, and UV spectrum were performed. A number of therapeutic applications for the extract were observed, including antidiabetic activity (anti-glucosidase) of 98.34% inhibition at 100 µg/mL, anti-lipase of 100% inhibition at 100 µg/mL, and anti-amylase activity of 100% inhibition at 100 µg/mL, antioxidant activity (anti-DPPH activity) of 59.74% inhibition at 100 µg/mL, anthelmintic at 1 min by 1000 µg/mL, antifibrinolytic at 20 secs by 1000 µg/mL and cytotoxic activity against A549 lung cell lines, wherein, the cell viability was below 40 % at the highest dose (100 µg/mL), with an IC50 value of 39.9 µg/mL.

Objective: The Illicium verum is an evergreen Chinese plant, from which a culinary spice named star anise is obtained and is predominantly used in Asian countries. Besides its flavor, it possess high medicinal value. Illicium verum possesses good antimicrobial properties and in the past utilized to treat versatile ailments of microbial origin. Illicium verum is commonly known as star anise. Methods: This study is an attempt to resurrect the ancient forgotten traditional spice Illicium verum by analyzing its essential oils (EOs) for the phyto-biochemical properties using GC–MS, IR studies and various standard biochemical tests to record the presence of the chemical compounds based on its test reactions and also to measure its anti-microbial vulnerability testing towards the MRSA clinical isolates, by deploying the standard anti-microbial assay in the aseptic microbiological laboratory conditions. Results: The data procured from the standard antimicrobial assay of Illicium verum essential oil were compared with that of the standard antibiotic e-strips towards the same set of MRSA clinical isolates. The antimicrobial assay test results of Illicium verum essential oil against the clinical isolates of the MRSA showed promising results when compared to that of standard antibiotic e-strips. The results showed that all the MRSA clinical isolates were susceptible to the tested drug with inhibition zone diameter ranging from 18 mm to 28 mm (Mean 24.05 mm). The MBC and MIC results confirmed that the tested extract was potent against the highly virulent Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates with MBC and MIC of 0.97 µg/mL and 0.70 µg/mL, which was lower compared to MBC and MIC values of the standard antibiotics. Conclusion: The results obtained from this study is a motivation to rediscover the ancient phytochemical compounds as an added asset to the standard available drugs in dealing with the upcoming hazardous diseases and pandemics. Thus, it relishes us to perform more of such studies to enhance the phyto-pharmacological industry.