Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Moringa oleifera, recognized globally as a nutrient-dense and medicinally valuable plant, is widely consumed in dried leaf form for use in herbal powders, nutraceuticals, and fortified foods. Drying is a critical post-harvest step that directly influences the phytochemical stability and bioactivity of the leaves. Prior studies indicate that sunlight exposure can degrade heat-sensitive and photo-labile compounds, including vitamin C, carotenoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids, whereas shade drying generally preserves antioxidant potential by minimizing thermal oxidation and photodegradation. However, comparative evidence remains inconsistent across regions and processing conditions. Some reports show significantly higher quercetin, chlorogenic acid, and total phenolics in shade-dried leaves, while others document negligible differences or even enhanced carotenoid retention with controlled sun exposure. These disparities suggest that the relationship between drying conditions and phytochemical composition is influenced by variables such as leaf maturity, local climatic factors, air circulation, and drying duration.
This research addresses the gap by systematically comparing the phytochemical profile of sun-dried versus shade-dried Moringa oleifera leaves under controlled conditions. The investigation focuses on quantifying major bioactive classes, including total phenolic content, total flavonoids, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, tannins, and antioxidant activity measured through DPPH and FRAP assays. The central premise is that shade drying, due to its lower thermal load and reduced photochemical stress, will retain greater concentrations of phytochemicals compared to sun drying. The findings are expected to inform best-practice recommendations for small-scale processors, nutraceutical manufacturers, and community-level drying operations in regions where Moringa serves as a crucial functional food.