| Summary: | Traditional folk medicine in Sri Lanka is mostly based on plants and plant-derived products, however, many of these medicinal plant species are scientifically unexplored. Here, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial potency of 28 different extracts prepared from seven popular medicinal plant species employed in Sri Lanka. The extracts were subjected to cell-based and cell-free assays of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), microsomal prostaglandin E<sub>2</sub> synthase (mPGES)-1, and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activity. Moreover, antibacterial and disinfectant activities were assessed. Characterization of secondary metabolites was achieved by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis. <i>n</i>-Hexane- and dichloromethane-based extracts of <i>Garcinia cambogia</i> efficiently suppressed 5-LO activity in human neutrophils (IC<sub>50</sub> = 0.92 and 1.39 µg/mL), and potently inhibited isolated human 5-LO (IC<sub>50</sub> = 0.15 and 0.16 µg/mL) and mPGES-1 (IC<sub>50</sub> = 0.29 and 0.49 µg/mL). Lipophilic extracts of <i>Pothos scandens</i> displayed potent inhibition of mPGES-1 only. A methanolic extract of <i>Ophiorrhiza mungos</i> caused significant NO scavenging activity. The lipophilic extracts of <i>G. cambogia</i> exhibited prominent antibacterial and disinfectant activities, and GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of fatty acids, sesquiterpenes and other types of secondary metabolites. Together, our results suggest the prospective utilization of <i>G.</i> <i>cambogia</i> as disinfective agent with potent anti-inflammatory properties.
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