QUALITATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPARISON BETWEEN FLAVONOIDS AND PHENOLIC ACIDS CONTENTS OF LEAVES AND FRUITS OF MELIA AZEDARACH (FAMILY: MELIACEAE) CULTIVATED IN IRAQ BY HPLC AND HPTLC

Abstract

Objective: The aim of our study was to compare between flavonoids and phenolic acids contents of leaves and fruits of Melia azedarach since no phytochemical investigation had done previously in Iraq.Methods: The leaves and fruits of Melia azedarach were extracted by soxhlet using 80% ethanol then the dried extract was suspended in water and fractionated using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. The n-butanol fraction was hydrolyzed by acid and partitioned with ethyl acetate. The different fractions containing flavonoids and phenolic acids were analyzed by HPLC and HPTLC.Results: The HPLC results revealed the presence catechin-7-O-glycoside in fruit only, while kaempferol-7-O-glycoside is found in the leaves only. Catechin and its glycosides are more abundant in the fruits than in the leaves. The HPTLC results revealed that kaempferol and quercetin are present in all fractions of leaves and fruits as aglycones and as glycosides. Free chlorogenic was found in both leaves and fruits.Conclusion: No major differences were found between the flavonoids and phenolic acids contents of the leaves and fruits of Melia azedarach