Evaluation Of Cytotoxicity And Antioxidant Properties Of Ethanolic Extract From Dried Moringa Oleifera Flowers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant & cytotoxic properties of the ethanolic extract obtained from the dried flower powder of Moringa oleifera, a well-known plant celebrated for its medicinal properties. The ethanolic extract of the flower contains a variety of phytochemicals, such as alkaloids, quinones, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, amino acids, tannins, terpenoids, coumarins, & triterpenoids. To assess the antioxidant effects of different concentrations of the ethanol extract, three assay techniques were employed - DPPH radical scavenging assay & Ferric Reducing Ability Power (FRAP) assay. The FRAP assay showed increased absorbance at 700 nm with higher extract concentrations, indicating an effective reduction of Fe³⁺ to Fe^2+. At 100 μg of extract, the maximum absorbance recorded was 0.15, compared to 0.1 for gallic acid, the positive control, at the same concentration. The researchers employed FTIR analysis to identify the chemical bonds present in the extract. Their findings indicate that the flower extract of Moringa oleifera demonstrates significant antioxidant & cytotoxic activities. This study provides support for some traditional claims about the therapeutic benefits of the flower extract, & suggests its potential for higher apoptotic activity compared to the ethanolic extract of the leaves. The identification & characterization of specific compounds within the extract could potentially contribute to the development of new anticancer drugs.