The Journal of Phytopharmacology 2026; 15(1):108-116 DOI:10.31254/phyto.2026.15115
Analysis of phytochemicals in leaf ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera
Abby E. Bennett1 , Franchesca Urbie-Rheinbolt2 , Tanner Sciara2 , Jennifer Perry Cecile2
1. Plants for Human Health, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
2. Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, USA
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 19th November, 2025 / Accepted: 24th March, 2026 / Published : 30th March, 2026
Background: Known for its nutrient-rich content, the Moringa oleifera (MO) plant is prevalent in Africa and India. MO has significant anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antimicrobial properties, making it a useful nutraceutical. Objective: To examine similarities and differences in fresh and aged MO leaf extracts phytochemical profiles. Materials and Methods: We used ethanolic plant leaf extracts from North American and Central American harvests (100% or 80% ethanol with 20% water) and analyzed total phenolic content, absorbance, and fluorescence profiles. We also performed capillary electrophoresis separations and collected liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry data. Furthermore, we examined mass spectral data from ethanolic extracts of both fresh and aged plant leaves. Results: Fresh aqueous ethanolic (80%) leaf extracts led to greater total phenolic content, greater absorbance and fluorescence signal, and more abundance in electropherograms by capillary electrophoresis with absorbance detection. Aged leaf extracts produced varied results. Thirteen phytochemicals were determined by LC-MS (isoamyl nitrite, ethosuximide M5, trolamine, octopamine (p-hydroxyphenylethanolamine), veratric acid, 6-methoxy-2-naphthylacetic acid, racepinephrine, pyridoxine, chlorogenic acid, o-coumaric acid, tiagabine, quercitrin, and dihydroquercetin) to be present in fresh and aged leaf extracts. Conclusion: Fresh and aged MO leaf extracts showed distinct phytochemical profiles. Fresh samples exhibit more compounds with phenolic structures and anti-inflammatory properties. Differences in these samples likely result from autooxidation and/or changes in environmental factors affecting plant growth.
Capillary Electrophoresis, Nutraceuticals, Phenolic Content, Mass Spectral Data, Fresh and Aged Leaf Extractions
HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE
Bennett AE, Urbie-Rheinbolt F, Sciara T, Mowa CN, Cecile JP. Analysis of phytochemicals in leaf ethanolic extracts of M. oleifera. J Phytopharmacol 2026; 15(1):108-116. doi: 10.31254/phyto.2026.15115
Creative Commons (CC) License-
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Copyright
Copyright © 2026 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0.