THE PHYTOCHEMICAL, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ANALYSIS OF AZADIRACHTA INDICA (NEEM) LEAVES

Azadirachta indica, commonly known as neem leaf, is a medicinal plant widely recognized for its extensive therapeutic applications in traditional medicine. This study investigated the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of neem leaf extracts, with emphasis on their potential as natural remedies for various health conditions. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, steroids, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones, and phenolic compounds, which are known to exhibit significant pharmacological properties. Antimicrobial analysis was carried out using aqueous and methanolic neem leaf extracts against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that the methanolic extract exhibited higher antibacterial activity, with zones of inhibition measuring 22.00 mm against E. coli and 18.50 mm against Staphylococcus aureus, while the aqueous extract produced lower inhibition zones of 6.20 mm against E. coli and 16.00 mm against Staphylococcus aureus. These findings indicate that neem leaf extracts possess appreciable antimicrobial activity, with methanol being a more effective extraction solvent than water. The study provides scientific validation for the traditional use of neem leaves and highlights their relevance in the development of plant-based therapeutic agents, while emphasizing the need for further studies to explore their full pharmacological potential in ethnomedicine and modern drug development.