Phytochemical analysis and in vitro anti-oxidant activity of Moringa oleifera leaves extract

The phytochemical contents such as, total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin content of ethanol extract of tender and matured leaves of Moringa oleifera were investigated. On the other hand, antioxidant activity test (total antioxidant activity, ABTS free radical scavenging activity, reducing power and ferrous ion chelating ability) were also studied. Total Phenolic content (203.80 ± 0.0014 and 105.00 ± 0.0045) mg/g gallic acid equivalent, total flavonoid content (26.02 ± 0.0031 and 18.20 ± 0.0025) mg/g quercetin equivalent and the total tannin content (12.90 ± 0.0021 and 10.50 ± 0.0012) mg/g of tannic acid equivalent were found in the ethanol extracts of tender and matured leaves of Moringa oleifera, respectively. The total antioxidant capacity of both leaves of the ethanol extracts were 217.43 ± 0.0025 mg/g and 210.65 ± 0.0019 mg/g respectively of ascorbic acid equivalent, respectively. Firstly, the IC50 value of tender and matured leaves of free radical scavenging activity test for ABTS (0.57 ± 0.0135 and 0.61 ± 0.0258) mg/mL were obtained using ascorbic acid as positive control (0.50 ± 0.0265 mg/mL). Secondly, reducing power ability was increased with higher concentration of all samples and standard. Finally, the IC50 value for ferrous ion chelating ability test was observed 5.10 ± 0.0121 and 9.20 ± 0.0212 mg/mL for ethanol extracts of tender and matured leaves respectively, whereas standard Na2EDTA was 4.0±0.0135 mg/mL. The result revealed that the ethanol extract of tender leaves showed more in-vitro antioxidant properties that of matured leaves. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 58(3), 179-186, 2023