<p>The global demand for advanced bioceramics exhibiting dual functionality has been gradually increasing. The increase is driven by the need for bone replacement and reconstruction of fractured and tumor bone, as well as rising prevalence of chronic osteoarthritis condition, and osteoporosis due to aging. The hydroxyapatite (HAp), a primary inorganic constituent of the human bone matrix, is an ideal material for such applications. In the present study, a versatile green approach was designed for the preparation of HAp using seashells as green calcium precursors, and <i>Ixora chinensis</i> flower extract as a green reagent under low processing temperature. The <i>Ixora</i> flower extract contains anthocyanins, a subclass of flavonoids, predominantly Cyanidin-3-rutinoside. The anthocyanin served as a natural capping and stabilizing agent during HAp formation. The structure–property correlation of the prepared HAp was carried out using broad spectrum of analytical tools. The results confirmed the nanoscale HAp with synergistic bioactivity and biocompatibility for bone tissue engineering. The bluish-green emission in the range of 360–510&#xa0;nm provides a preliminary indication of the potential of the prepared HAp for cellular imaging applications. The preliminary screening through the in vitro anticancer activity against the MG-63 cancer cell line showed promising results, indicating the potential cytotoxicity of the prepared HAp on malignant cells, while exhibiting minimal cytotoxicity toward normal Vero cell lines with nearly 90% cell viability. The findings of the study strongly suggest the multi functionality of the prepared HAp for biomedical applications.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>