PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT OF LEMON GRASS (CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS)

Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) is known for its medicinal properties, offering therapeutic potential against various diseases, including cancer, this research investigated the phytochemical constituents and in vitro antioxidant activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass), a medicinal plant commonly employed in traditional medicine. Fresh leaves collected from Azare; Bauchi State were processed using the maceration technique. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of tannins (+++), flavonoids (++), steroids (++), cardiac glycosides (+), and saponin glycosides (+), while alkaloids, saponins, and anthraquinones were absent. Among the detected compounds, tannins were the most abundant, followed by flavonoids and steroids. The antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated through Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), Total Phenolic Content (TPC), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging assays, with vitamin C serving as the reference standard. The extract demonstrated considerable antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 24 mg/mL (FRAP), 23 mg/mL (TPC), and 25 mg/mL (H2O2 scavenging), compared to 20 mg/mL for vitamin C. This indicates that the extract achieved approximately 80–87% of the antioxidant effectiveness of vitamin C, largely attributable to its phenolic compounds. Overall, the study confirms that the aqueous leaf extract of C. citratus is a significant source of natural antioxidants, thereby validating its traditional use in the management of oxidative stress-related disorders. Its notable antioxidant capacity suggests potential applications in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and food preservation. Further research, including the isolation of bioactive constituents, in vivo testing, and toxicity studies, is recommended to better establish its therapeutic and industrial value.