Effect of different solvents on the extraction of phytochemical compounds of Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss)

Neem (Azadirachta indica) that belongs to the Meliaceae family has many medicinal properties such as treatment of skin diseases, hypoglycemia, hypertension, cancer, and AIDS. In this study, to investigate the effect of different solvents on the quantity and quality of phytochemical properties of neem collected from Bahoklat area in Chabahar city, a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in 2021. Ethanol, methanolic,
n-hexane and acetone extracts of neem leaves and fruits were prepared by cold maceration method. Total phenol content, total flavonoid and antioxidant activity were measured by folin-cicalto reagent, aluminum chloride colorimetric and diphenylpicrylhydrazyl free radical scaving (DPPH) methods, respectively. The results showed that the effect of organ type, solvent type and their interaction on all measured traits was significant. Based on the results, the highest amount of total phenol (48.22 mg Gallic acid / g dry weight) was reported in acetone leaf extract, and the lowest amount (2.76 mg Gallic acid / g dry weight) was reported in hexane extract of fruit. In addition, the highest amount of total flavonoids was observed in acetoin fruit and leaf extracts (4.71 and 4.61 mg Quercetin / g dry weight, respectively) and the lowest amount (3.22 mg quercetin / g dry weight) was obtained in the hexane extract of fruit. The highest and the lowest antioxidant activity was detected in ethanolic leaf extract (94.77%) and acetone extract of fruit (12.02%), respectively. Therefore, neem leaf is suggested as a useful source of phenolic compounds and natural antioxidants.