Comparison of total flavanoid content of Azadirachta indica root bark extracts prepared by different methods of extraction

Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (AI) is a perinneal plant of family Maleacae.The total flavonoid content of AI was determined by using aluminium chloride coulorimetric method.It was found that Azadirachta indica root bark extracts contain total flavonoids in a range of 0.198 - 0.512 % g quercetin equivalent. The decoction method gave the highest yield (20.2%, w/w) of crude extract, while macertation extract gave the highest total flavonoid content (0.512 % g). Qualitative chemical tests for flavonoids and thin layer chromatographic analysis were used to screen the extracts obtained from different methods. Extracts obtained from maceration, microwave and soxhlet showed spots of Rf values 0.92, 0.93, 0.93 corresponding to quercetin flavonoid which is found to be the most potent flavonoid.