Egyptian wild medicinal plants are Nicotiana glauca R.C., Solanum incanum L., and Withania somnifera L. The phytochemicals, antibacterial activity, and cytotoxicity of each species’ 1%, 3%, and 5% aqueous extracts attained scrutiny. Five fungal and five bacterial species (Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. terreus, Alternaria alternata, and Rhizoctonia solani) trials used the antimicrobial activity, agar well diffusion method. The Vicia faba assay showed the cytotoxicity of these plants at varied doses. N. glauca had 1.65% tannins and the most antioxidant activity at 0.32 mg/ml. N. glauca had a superior antifungal activity against A. niger, A. terreus, R. solani, B. cereus, P. aeruginosa, and R. solanacearum. At 1%, 3%, and 5% aqueous extracts, W. somnifera has the largest chromosomal aberrations, 22.97%, 25.46%, and 40.93%, respectively. In anaphase and telophase, cytotoxicity causes interphase micronucleus, stickiness, disrupted metaphase, lagging, bridge, and diagonal abnormalities. For reducing the pharmaceutical cytotoxicity, this study provided information on wild medicinal plants, revealing N. glauca with the greatest phytochemicals, antioxidants, and antibacterial activity with minimum cytotoxicity and abnormalities. Hence, its use can be safe for therapeutic dosages.

Keywords: Wild medicinal plants, Nicotiana glauca, Solanum incanum, Withania somnifera, antimicrobial activity, phytochemical analysis, cytotoxicity

Key findings: Nicotiana glauca, Solanum incanum, and Withania somnifera are Egyptian wild medicinal herbs with high antioxidant secondary metabolites. N. glauca had the most phytochemicals, antioxidant, and antibacterial activity but the lowest cytotoxic effect and abnormality percentage. The findings suggest using N. glauca aqueous extracts at 1%, 3%, or 5% for specific medical disorders.