PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, FTIR ANALYSIS AND ANTIOXIDANTS PROPERTIES OF ACACIA AURICULIFORMIS LEAF AND STEM BARK EXTRACTS

This study investigated the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant properties of Acacia auriculiformis leaves and stem bark using aqueous and n-hexane extraction methods. Fresh plant materials were collected, authenticated, air-dried, pulverized, and extracted by maceration. The aqueous extracts were further defatted using n-hexane to remove lipophilic impurities. Qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out to detect the presence of bioactive compounds, while Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was employed to identify functional groups present in the extracts. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assays. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids in most extracts, with alkaloids, glycosides, and steroids occurring selectively depending on the solvent and plant part. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups such as hydroxyl, carbonyl, aromatic, and aliphatic groups associated with antioxidant activity. The antioxidant assays demonstrated concentration-dependent radical scavenging activity, with the stem bark defatted fraction exhibiting the highest antioxidant potential, followed by the hexane leaf extract. The findings of this study indicate that Acacia auriculiformis, particularly the stem bark, is a rich source of natural antioxidant compounds and supports its traditional medicinal use. The plant therefore shows strong potential for application in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical formulations.