Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of Flower and Neem Seed Oil Extract Azadirachta indica (Neem)

Azadirachta Indica is a useful traditional medicinal plant in the sub-continent and each part of the tree has some medicinal properties. It is widely cultivated in Nigeria as an ornamental as well as medicinal plant. Fresh seeds and flower of the plant were collected, dried, homogenized and extracted using ethanol and petroleum ether by maceration. Phytochemical analysis of Neem flower revealed the presence of phenols, flavanoids by NaOH test, alkaloids by Dragendroff’s test, saponin by Frothing test, steroidal nucleus by Salkawoskii test and cardolinide test, carbohydrate by Molisch’s test and reducing sugar by fehling test. The result was negative for flavanoids by ferric chloride test and lead acetate test, alkaloids by Molisch’s test, carbohydrate by Baerfoed’s test and anthraquinones by Bomtragers’s test. However, the phytochemical analysis of Neem seed oil indicate the presence of phenols, flavanoids by NaOH test, steroidal nucleus by Salkawoskii test and Cardenolide test, carbohydrate by Molisch’s test, anthraquinone by Bomtrager’s test. However, the seed oil extract of were found to be negative for the presence of flavanoids by ferric chloride test and lead acetate test, alkaloids by Dragendroff’s test and Mayer’s test, saponin by frothing test, carbohydrate by Berfoed’s test, reducing sugar by Fehling test. The results from antioxidant activity of flowers and Neem seed oil indicate 57.77% and 68.30% free radical scavenging activity respectively at concentration of 200μg/ml. The minimum inhibitory concentration (IC50) was recorded as 80μg/ml for Neem flower extract and 43μg/ml for Neem seed oil extract. From the above results, Neem seed oil has higher free radical scavenging activity compare to the flower extract. The presence of Phytochemical compounds and antioxidant activity of Neem flower and seed oil have demonstrate the potential to be used by foods and pharmaceutical industries.