Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activity of Different Parts of Low Rattlebox (Crotalaria pumila)

This study investigated the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of the leaves, stems, seeds, and roots of Crotalaria pumila (Low Rattlebox). Methanolic extracts of the plant parts were subjected to standard qualitative phytochemical screening and antioxidant evaluation using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. The qualitative analysis revealed the presence of key bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phenols, and quinones, with varying concentrations across plant parts. Alkaloids and saponins were abundant in the stem and seed, while phenols were prominent in the leaves. Antioxidant assessment showed that all extracts exhibited dose-dependent radical scavenging activity. The leaves recorded the highest antioxidant potential (IC₅₀ = 25.81 μg/mL), closely comparable to vitamin C (IC₅₀ = 21.95 μg/mL), followed by the root (44.67 μg/mL), stem (95.69 μg/mL), and seed (225.13 μg/mL). Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) among the plant parts. The strong antioxidant activity, particularly in the leaves, is attributed to the high content of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The results suggest that C. pumila is a promising natural source of natural antioxidants and bioactive compounds with potential applications in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations. Further research should focus on the isolation and structural characterization of the active phytochemicals in Crotalaria pumila. In vivo and clinical investigations are also recommended to validate its efficacy and safety for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.