Comparative Phytochemical Analysis and Bioactivities of Leaf and Stem Extracts of Nigerian Indigofera spicata

Background and Objective: The chemical composition of medicinal plants can vary across geographical regions, influencing their therapeutic potential.Indigofera spicata, a species widely used in traditional medicine, remains underexplored in Nigeria.This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the phytochemical composition and biological activities of the leaf and stem extracts of I. spicata collected in Nigeria, to identify potential pharmacologically active compounds.Materials and Methods: Leaf and stem samples were extracted using methanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane solvents.Phytochemical constituents were screened using standard qualitative assays.Antimicrobial activity was assessed through susceptibility tests, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) analyses.Antioxidant potential was determined by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, while cytotoxicity was evaluated using the Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay (BSLA).Statistical analyses were performed using appropriate comparative tests with significance set at p