CORRELATION

Azadirachta indica (Dongoyaro) leaves are widely recognized in traditional medicine for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which are largely attributed to its diverse phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity. However, limited studies have systematically correlated its phytochemical abundance with its antioxidant bioactivity to better explain its therapeutic mechanisms. This research aimed to profile the phytochemical constituents of Azadirachta indica leaves, evaluate their antioxidant properties, and determine how specific phytochemicals contribute to observed antioxidant activity. Fresh Azadirachta indica leaves were subjected to qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening to determine the presence and concentrations of major secondary metabolites. Methanolic extracts were analyzed for steroids, flavonoids, tannins, cardiac glycosides (Keller–Killiani test), saponins, and terpenoids. Antioxidant activity was assessed using standard in-vitro assays, and statistical correlation was carried out to evaluate the relationship between phytochemical concentrations and antioxidant performance. Quantitative results showed high concentrations of flavonoids (862.21 µg/mL) and cardiac glycosides (527.75 µg/mL), while steroids (282.50 µg/mL) and terpenoids (305.48 µg/mL) were present in moderate amounts. Tannins (77.13 µg/mL) occurred in lower quantities. Antioxidant evaluation revealed strong free-radical scavenging activity, with inhibition values increasing proportionally with the concentration of flavonoids. Correlation analysis identified flavonoids as the major contributors to antioxidant capacity. These findings support the documented antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions of neem (Dongoyaro) leaves, as flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, and glycosides are known to disrupt microbial membranes, modulate inflammatory pathways, and reduce oxidative stress. Overall, this study provides biochemical justification for the therapeutic relevance of Azadirachta indica leaves by establishing a clear relationship between its quantified phytochemicals and antioxidant activity