Acanthus ilicifolius (Acanthaceae) has received considerable attention due to its wide range of secondary metabolites and its traditional usage in Indian and Chinese system of medicine. This plant is reported to be a mangrove. Mangrove survives in the most hostile environment with fluctuating tidal and saline regime. Hence these plants are considered to be rich sources of steroids, triterpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins. In the present study, an attempt was made to quantify specific markers like 2-benzoxazolinone and quercetin by HPTLC in ethanolic and aqueous methanolic extracts of leaves. Based on the chemoprofile of the extracts: antimicrobial activity was carried out on plant pathogens Xanthomonas species to facilitate the use of A.ilicifolius leaves as natural insecticide and antioxidant activity was carried out using CUPRAC assay.
