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Pereskia bleo (Kunt) DC is a leafy cactus species traditionally used by locals in Malaysia for treatments of various ailments known to be due to its high total phenolic content (TPC). There are a number of procedures in extracting TPC from plant materials. This paper reports a study conducted on maximizing microwave-assisted extraction of TPC, expressed as gallic acid equivalent (GAE), from leaves of the species using one variable at a time method (OVAT). The study establishes that the best solvent for extraction of TPC from leaves was ethanol with concentrations ranging from 20-40%. Solvent to solid ratio was set at 1:30. The best extraction time and microwave power to obtain high yield of TPC ranged from 30 to 60 seconds and from 40W to 50W, respectively. The study presents a simple and efficient non-conventional method of extraction of TPC from Pereskia bleo simplifying extraction procedure in an attempt at exploiting the potentials of the species as a source novel therapeutic agent. In the future, anti-inflammatory activities of Pereskia bleo will be investigated and the preliminary study on the extracts is for future halal and organic formulation.