Comparative Study on Phytochemical, Antioxidant properties, Heavy Metal and FT-IR Analysis of Azadirachta indica L. from IMFA Industrial Area, Rayagada District, Odisha

Background: Various plant parts are utilized in traditional medicine for their therapeutic capabilities. Azadirachta indica (Neem) is widely recognized for its medicinal properties, including antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects. The presence of bioactive compounds in methanolic extracts of A. indica makes it a potential candidate for pharmaceutical applications. However, industrial contamination may influence its phytochemical profile, antioxidant potential, and heavy metal content, necessitating a comparative study between decontaminated and contaminated samples. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate and compare the phytochemical composition, antioxidant properties, heavy metal accumulation, and FT-IR spectral characteristics of A. indica samples collected from the IMFA industrial area, Rayagada district, Odisha, India. Materials and Methods: Both qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses were conducted on methanolic extracts of A. indica leaves. Antioxidant potential was assessed using DPPH, Heavy metal concentrations, including Chromium (Cr), were determined using ICP-OES. FT-IR spectroscopy was employed to identify functional groups present in the plant extracts. Results: The bioactive compounds detected among all the samples included alkaloids alongside phenols as well as tannins and saponins together with proteins. The contaminated sample contained greater amounts of total phenolic and flavonoid content at 65.14 mg GA/g and 245.74 mg RU/g than the decontaminated sample which had 58.72 mg GA/g and 189.13 mg RU/g. The antioxidant capacity analysed through DPPH assay spanned from 8.57% to 97.88% for contaminated samples and from 48.64% to 89.94% for decontaminated samples. The presence of heavy metals which evaluated through ICP-OES. Through FT-IR showed distinctive functional groups to confirm the chemical modifications between the evaluated samples. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the impact of industrial pollution on the phytochemical and antioxidant properties of A. indica. The presence of heavy metals in contaminated samples raises concerns about their safety for medicinal use. Further studies are recommended to explore detoxification strategies and assess the long-term effects of heavy metal exposure on medicinal plants.