Phytochemical characterization and antioxidant potential of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts under different solvent systems

Abstract

Which solvent best captures the healing potential of the miracle tree? Moringa oleifera has gained attention for its remarkable nutritional and medicinal properties, yet optimal extraction conditions for maximizing bioactive compound recovery remain debated. This research characterized phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activities of M. oleifera leaf extracts prepared using five different solvent systems: methanol, ethanol, aqueous, hexane, and chloroform. Extraction yields ranged from 4.2% (hexane) to 18.6% (aqueous). Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, and glycosides with varying intensities across solvents. Methanol extract demonstrated highest total phenolic content (127.4±4.8 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid content (84.6±3.2 mg QE/g). DPPH radical scavenging assay showed methanol extract with lowest IC₅₀ (87.4 µg/mL), followed by ethanol (104.6 µg/mL). Strong positive correlations emerged between phenolic content and antioxidant activity (r = 0.94). These findings establish methanol as the optimal solvent for extracting antioxidant phytochemicals from M. oleifera leaves.