Phytochemical Study of the Azadirachta indica Leaves

Abstract

The objective of this study is to extract the primary and secondary metabolites, such as fatty acid, Terpenes and octadecan derivatives from (Azadirachta Indica) leaves by using different solvents; (ethyl acetate, chloroform, petroleum ether and ethanol), and to determine the structure of the extracted compounds by using Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectroscopic analysis (GC/MS). The plant was chosen to study because it being utilized in traditional medicine. The samples were prepared for analysis, by collecting the leaves, drying them, crushing and grinding them to fine powder. Extraction was done using Soxhlet. The phytochemical screening of leaf extract indicated the presence of secondary metabolites; alkaloids, flavonoids, Triterpenoids and saponins. The result of (GC/MS) showed that: Petroleum ether extract showed richness in hydroxyl containing compounds, fatty acids and terpenoids (lemonin and phytol) also the chloroform extract was rich in octadecan derivatives, we found that the hexa and octadecanamide were clearly present in the ethyl acetate extract and the ethanol extract was rich in fatty acid, decan and hydroxyl derivative.