Evaluation of Phytochemicals, Total Flavonoids Content and Antioxidant Activity of Leucaena Leucocephala (Lam.) De Wit.

The plant species Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) De Wit. belongs to the Fabaceae family of Angiospermae, has been found in the Navrangpura area of Ahmedabad district of Gujarat state. The purpose of this study is to prepare the extracts of the leaves and stem of the plant using a polar solvent (Methanol) and a non-polar solvent (Chloroform) and conduct preliminary phytochemical screening and quantitative analysis of flavonoids using colorimetric method, respectively, as well as an antioxidant activity using the DPPH (2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method. The methanolic extract of leaf and stem revealed a higher number of phytochemicals compared to chloroform extract. The methanolic extract of leaf showing maximum total flavonoids content as compared to stem. The methanol extract of leaf and stem showed less antioxidant activity as compared to standard ascorbic acid.