Comparative investigation of antioxidant content and activity of different parts of Moringa peregrina extracted by different solvent systems

A comparative study evaluated the total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity of Moringa peregrina (MP) seeds, bark, and leaves extracted using different solvents. Antioxidant activity was assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Significant variations were observed among plant parts and solvent systems. Leaves consistently showed the highest TPC and TFC, followed by bark and seeds. Absolute ethanol extracts yielded high TPC and TFC in leaves and bark, while aqueous methanol produced high TPC in bark. The strongest DPPH scavenging activity was found in leaves (91.6 %), followed by bark (90.7 %) and seeds (19.3 %). Ethanol extracts also showed the highest ABTS and FRAP antioxidant activity values, particularly in leaves and bark. Antioxidant activity was strongly correlated with phenolic and flavonoid contents regardless of the solvent used. Overall, MP leaves and bark demonstrated superior antioxidant potential, suggesting their possible therapeutic value in disease prevention and management.