Sue-Kei LeeJing-Wen KengJessica-Ai-Lyn YonChun-Wai MaiHeng-Chee LimSek-Chuen ChowGabriel Akyirem AkowuahKai Bin Liew0000-0001-9299-6842Siew-Keah LEEPhilip J. MarriottYik-Ling Chew2025-10-242025-10-242025-01-2410.3390/plants14030362https://dspace-cris.utar.edu.my/handle/123456789/11567To study Cassia alata (CA) (Linnaeus) Roxburgh's effectiveness towards atopic dermatitis (AD), CA leaf extracts were prepared using three methanol-based extraction solvent systems. Bioactive constituents were characterized and quantified via high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. Antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, a major AD exacerbation factor, were assessed. Four polyphenols (two flavonoids, two anthraquinones) beneficial in AD control were detected (rhein > aloe-emodin > astragalin > kaempferol). The 75% v/v MeOH/water extract had the most polyphenols and the best antioxidant profile (total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-hydrate radical scavenging activity, ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant capacity), with excellent S. aureus inhibition (minimum inhibitory concentration = 0.625 mg/mL; minimum bactericidal concentration = 1.25 mg/mL). Hence, it was selected for the in vitro examination of cytotoxicity and wound healing activity towards human epidermal keratinocyte cells using a 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2h-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and wound scratch assay. The extract showed no cytotoxicity (IC50 > 100 mu g/mL) without significant reduction in cell viability up to 200 mu g/mL compared to the vehicle control. An amount of 50 mu g/mL extract concentration showed the best wound-healing activity (p < 0.05), with a cell migration rate of 5.89 +/- 0.80 m/h over 96 h post-treatment. Such antioxidant, antimicrobial, and wound-healing activities suggest CA and its polyphenols to be promising natural, long-term AD remedies for skin health.enCassia alatapolyphenolswound healingantioxidantantimicrobialatopic dermatitisIN-VITROANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITYANTIBACTERIAL EVALUATIONALOE-EMODINEXTRACTSLEAFKAEMPFEROLRHEINPROLIFERATIONCAPACITYjournal-article