"Active Fe" in plants has generally been interpreted to be ferrous iron. This study evaluated some of the commonly followed active Fe determination procedures based on Fe(ll) measurements. In each of 12 species examined, leaf extracts exhibited strong reducing activity and quickly reduced any added Fe(lIl) with or without light. The reducing activity was attributed to ascorbic acid and phenols in the plant extracts. The reliability of the Fe(ll) iron determination procedures in plants and the interpretation that active Fe is Fe(ll) are questionable. arietinum L.), citrus (Citrus aurantium L.), grape ( Vitis vinifera L.), maize (Zea mays L.), mulberry (Morus alba L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.), rice (Oryza sativa L.), and ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.) from 10 to 12 randomly selected field-grown plants were combined and cleaned against surface contamination by successive washings with 0.1 N HCI, tap water, deionized water, and finally glass distilled water. After blotting, the leaf samples were chopped finely (1-2 mm) using stainless steel scissors, and suitable quantities were drawn. The weighed samples were stored at 4°C and utilized for extraction within 1 h.