Anti‐MDR <i>Escherichia coli</i> Activity, Phenolic and Flavonoid Content, and Antioxidant Potential of <i>Azadirachta indica</i> A. Juss Ethanolic Leaf Extract: An HR‐LCMS‐Based Profiling Study

The rise of multidrug‐resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) poses a critical challenge due to limited treatment options. This study evaluates the anti‐MDR E. coli activity, phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant potential, and bioactive compounds in ethanolic leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Among 115 MDR E. coli isolates, 61.7% showed susceptibility to the extract, with inhibition zones of 8–15 mm. The extract exhibited high phenolic (53.6 ± 0.444 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (84.3 ± 0.889 mg QE/g) content, which may account for its strong antioxidant activity based on total antioxidant capacity (ascorbic acid IC 50 : 9.0 ± 0.255 μ g/mL), although it showed only moderate free radical scavenging ability (DPPH IC 50 : 406.69 ± 1.64 μ g/mL). High‐resolution liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HR‐LCMS) analysis identified 153 and 107 metabolites in negative and positive ESI modes, respectively, with several displaying antibacterial properties. The presence of alkaloids, phosphoramidates, and phenolic compounds supports its antimicrobial and antioxidant potential.