Phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of leonotis nepetifolia.
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Date
2026
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Busitema University
Abstract
Leonotis nepetifolia commonly called klip dagga, or lion’s ear, has been used to effectively treat various diseases and other health problems for a long time because of its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities. Several studies have attributed these biological activities to L. nepetifolia’s constituent secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, glycosides, coumarins, anthraquinones, and saponins. The total plant species harbored in different countries includes many important medicinal plants some of whose pot be explored. As the demand of medicinal plants has increased globally due to insurgence of interest in and herbal medicines, there is an urgent need to develop and implement cultivation of important medic commercial scale. This study aimed at preliminary phytochemical analysis and determination of antioxidant activity of acetone extract (AE) from aerial parts of Leonotis nepetifolia collected from Nagongera Town council. Qualitative phytochemical analysis showed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, steroids, alkaloids, phenols, and saponins. Quantitative analysis revealed that flavonoids were the most abundant phytochemical at 7.6274 ± 0.255mg QUE/g, followed by steroids at 1.97925 ± 0.043 mg DSE/g, tannins at 0.1627 ± 0.166 mg TAE/g and alkaloids at 1.20183 ± 0.042 mg CAE/g. The antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH radical assay and the extract exhibited strong activity with an IC50 value of 0.1975 mg/ml. The observed antioxidant activity is likely attributed to the high flavonoid and phenolic content, which are known hydrogen donors. The results suggest that L. nepetifolia possesses significant phytochemicals and strong antioxidant potential which may justify its traditional use and support. However, although L. nepetifolia has great potential to treat these diseases, further isolation and identification of its therapeutic phytochemical constituents are required. In addition, the performance of its extracts and phytochemicals should be thoroughly tested in preclinical and clinical trials in order to ascertain their safety and efficacy, which will prove valuable in developing new medicines.
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Undergraduate research report
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Nyaketcho, R. (2026). Phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of leonotis nepetifolia. [Unpublished undergraduate research report]. Busitema University.