Determination of total phenolic and flavonoid content of Ziziphus nummularia leaf and fruit extract by maceration and hot continuous process by Soxhlet apparatus

Medicinal plant recognized as a valuable source of natural antioxidants due to the presence of diverse bioactive phytochemicals. Among these, phenolic and flavonoid compounds play a crucial role in protecting biological system against oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals. The present study aimed to evaluate the total phenolic content and total flavonoid content of Ziziphus nummularia plant extracts using established spectrophotometric methods. Total phenolic content determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, while total flavonoid content was estimated using the aluminum chloride colorimetric assay. Gallic acid and quercetin were employed as reference standards for phenolic and flavonoid estimation, respectively. Absorbance measurements were carried out using a UV- visible spectrophotometer, and the results were expressed as gallic acid equivalents and quercetin equivalents. The findings revealed the Ziziphus nummularia possesses a significant amount of phenolic and flavonoid constituents, indicating its strong antioxidant potential. The presence of these phytochemicals supports the traditional medicinal use of the plant and suggests its possible application as a natural source of antioxidants in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations. Further studies are recommended to isolate individual compounds and explore their biological activities in detail.