| Abstract: | Moringa oleifera is a miracle plant rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and antibiotic properties. Present study wasdesigned to evaluate various biochemical attributes of leaves and flowers of M. oleifera. Plant parts (leaves, flowers) of M. oleifera, collected from different roadsides of Multan district, Punjab, Pakistan, were used as experimental material. Result indicates that alkaloids, saponin, carbohydrates, fats, and protein had a high value in theaqueous extract of both leaves and flowers of M. oleifera. Whereas phenol content was high in methanolic leavesextract and the phenol contents were high in aqueous extract of flowers. The extract yield of M. oleifera leaves andflowers both showed a higher percentage in aqueous extract (57.5%), followed by methanol extract and lowest inethyl acetate extract. Flavonoids contents were higher in ethyl acetate extract of leaves (33.67%) and aqueousextract of flowers (53.71%). While crude fiber was high in methanolic extract of leaves (12.40%) and in flowerscrude fiber was high in ethyl acetate extract (15.86%). The moisture contents were higher in leaves (8.87%) thanflowers (7.3%) and similarly, ash percentage in flowers (52.60%) than leaves (41.84%). Ethyl acetate extracts ofM. oleifera leaves show antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa while methanolic extract of M. oleifera flowers shows antibacterial activity against Xanthomonas sp. Maximum growth inhibits show in all extracts ofleaves against Aspergillus flavus, F. oxysporum, and P. glabrum except for the concentrated aqueous extract ofleaves. While in flowers maximum growth inhibits all extracts against P. glabrum, A. niger, and A. flavus exceptthe diluted ethyl acetate extract. Phytochemicals present in different parts of moringa have significant edible andcommercial potential. Moringa extracts exhibited significant antimicrobial activity, therefore have applications inpharmaceuticals. |
