PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIOXIDANTS ASSESSMENT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT ON DRY AND FRESH NONE LEAVES.

ABSTRACT This study investigate the phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts from fresh (FLE) and dried (DNLE) Morinda citrifolia leaves. The dry and wet leaves of Morinda was soaked iPhytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of significant bioactive components in both extracts, including flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, tannins, steroids, terpenes, terpenoids, anthraquinones, and alkaloids, all of which have potential medicinal and antioxidant properties. Notably, cardiac glycosides were only discovered in the fresh extract, implying that they degraded after drying. To assess antioxidant activity, three in vitro assays were used: hydroxyl radical scavenging, iron chelation, and reducing power, with mannitol, EDTA, and ascorbic acid acting | as standards. All samples demonstrated concentration-dependent antioxidant activity. FNLE exhibited high hydroxyl radical scavenging (~70% at 800 mg/di) and reducing power, possibly _due to the preservation of thermolabile chemicals such flavonoids and fridoids. In contrast, DNLE had increased iron-chelating activity at higher concentrations, indicating that chelating agents were more stable after drying. These findings emphasize the impact of processing on the antioxidant activity of M. citrifolia and imply that fresh leaf extracts may preserve a broader and more effective range of antioxidant phytochemicals.