Phytochemical and Pharmacological Assessment of Pithecellobium dulce

Pithecellobium dulce (P. dulce), a Fabaceae plant commonly found in tropical regions, is well known for its nutritional and medicinal value. While its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anticancer activities are well documented, its neuroprotective potential remains underexplored. This study evaluates the antioxidant and anti-Alzheimer’s activity of a 90% ethanolic leaf extract of P. dulce (EEPD). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, steroids, and phenolic compounds. EEPD showed strong free-radical scavenging activity with the lowest IC₅₀ value in the DPPH assay. Fractionation guided by TLC and flash chromatography yielded phenolic-rich fractions, confirmed by LC-MS analysis. In SH-SY5Y neuronal cells, EEPD significantly improved cell viability and demonstrated notable neuroprotective effects, comparable to memantine. These findings highlight the promising antioxidant and neuroprotective potential of P. dulce leaves and support further molecular studies toward plant-based therapies for neurological disorders.