ABSTRACT
Objective: To prepare the crude extracts from the stems of neem with maceration extractor and
determine their total phenolics, flavonoids contents and antimicrobial activity by established
methods.
Methods: The dry stem samples were used to prepare different crude extracts using maceration
method. The total phenolics and total flavonoids contents were determined through Folin-
Ciocalteu’s reagent and AlCl3 methods. The antimicrobial activity of the crude extracts
from the local neem was determined by disc diffusion method against one Gram-positive
Staphylococcus aureus and three Grams-negative Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and vulgaris pathogenic bacterial strains. The standard amoxicillin was used as a positive
control for the antimicrobial study.
Results: The results of the total phenolics content of the crude extracts from different stems
ranged from 20.80 mg/100 g to 107.29 mg/100 g of the powder crude extracts. The total
flavonoids content of different crude extracts from powder stems of neem ranged from 136.50
mg/100 g to 484.50 mg/100 g of the powder samples. The antimicrobial activity of the crude
extracts from different stems of neem at different concentrations against four bacterial strains
didn’t give any activity.
Conclusions: Thanks to the contents of the total phenolics and flavonoids, the crude extracts
could be used as medicines for different aliments.