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Human beings are always prone to infectious diseases. Human pathogens are of various types.
These could be a virus, bacteria, fungi, protozoans, and other parasites and cause various
infections. Several deaths occur due to these infections every year. Despite various drugs available
in market these pathogens still are potential threat due to their variability and increasing antibiotic
resistance. It is a need of time to develop new drugs and plant isolates to cope with these infections.
The role of medicinal plants has been known for centuries. The present paper analyzes the
biologically active compounds present in the plant leaves, anti-bacterial activity, and cytotoxicity
of the ethanolic and pure extracts of a traditional plant, Rumex acetosella. Preliminary
phytochemical screening, UV-VIS spectroscopy, and GCMS was done to determine the chemical
makeup and biologically active constituents present in the plant leaves. Antibacterial activity was
tested through the well diffusion method and broth dilution method to determine the MICs. The
RBC hemolysis assay was performed to test the cytotoxicity of the extracts at different
concentrations. The present analysis revealed the existence of pharmacologically active
constituents such as 1,3,5-Triazine, 2,4,6-tris(cyanomethyl)-, 4-[4-Aminopentylamino]-2-
methoxy-9-methylacridine and Undecanoic acid, 10-bromo, etc. in Rumex acetosella leaves which
are responsible for different therapeutic effects. Ethanolic extract showed antibacterial potential
against S. aureus with MIC 800ug/ml but less sensitivity towards E. coli. Pure extract was potent
against both S. aureus and E. coli with MICs 10ul and 20ul respectively. RBC hemolysis revealed
that ethanolic extract was less toxic as compared to pure extract. In conclusion, R. acetosella
extracts exhibited significant antibacterial potential and less toxicity.