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Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical profile and quantify the bioactive constituents of Celastrus orbiculatus leaf extracts using various solvent systems. Extracts were prepared using chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and distilled water to determine extractive yields and assess the presence of phytochemicals through standard qualitative tests. The ethanolic extract showed the highest yield (8.41% w/w) and tested positive for a broad spectrum of constituents including flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, tannins, sterols, and proteins. Quantitative analyses confirmed that the ethanolic extract contained the highest total phenolic content (1.23 mg/100 mg), total flavonoid content (4.21 mg/100 mg), and total alkaloid content (0.54 mg/100 mg). High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed the presence of quercetin in the ethanolic extract with a retention time of 2.640 minutes and a concentration of 0.614% w/w. These findings indicate that Celastrus orbiculatus leaves are a rich source of phytochemicals with potential antioxidant and therapeutic applications, and ethanol serves as an effective solvent for extracting key bioactive compounds such as quercetin.