PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC LEAVES EXTRACT OF CASSIA OCCIDENTALIS

The study investigated the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant potential of the ethanolic leaf extract of Cassia occidentalis (Fabaceae), a plant widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of fever, infections, and inflammation. Fresh leaves of C. occidentalis were collected, shade-dried, pulverized, and extracted using ethanol as solvent. The crude extract was subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening to detect the presence of secondary metabolites, while antioxidant activity was evaluated through in-vitro assays including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) tests. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, and carbohydrates, while alkaloids, saponins, and anthraquinones were absent. The extract exhibited significant concentration-dependent antioxidant activities in all assays. the DPPH assay recorded a minimum radical inhibition of 17.5% at 50 µg/mL. while the total antioxidant capacity was 0.326 ± 0.001 absorbance (approximately 39% of ascorbic acid standard). The findings confirm that Cassia occidentalis contains bioactive compounds capable of scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative stress. The antioxidant effects are attributed mainly to the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds. This study provides scientific validation for the traditional use of C. occidentalis in managing oxidative stress-related disorders and supports its potential application as a natural antioxidant source in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations. Further research is recommended to isolate and characterize the specific bioactive constituents responsible for these activities.