Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Jatropha curcas Leaves, Phytochemical and Antibacterial Analysis of Its Butanol Crude Extract

Abstract

The use of different plant parts for the prevention and cure of ailments, infections and diseases as an alternative to the use of orthodox medicine is gaining more attention. Moreso, resistance to orthodox drugs has been confirmed in various literature. The free radical scavenging activities of Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae) leaves, phytochemicals present in its butanol crude extract as well as the antibacterial activities of its butanol crude extract were accessed. The leaves of Jatropha curcas were washed, air-dried and pulverized for active extraction of the composition of the plant in butanol. Fresh leaves of the plant were tested for its DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activity (indicator of antioxidant), while the butanol crude leaf extract was accessed for the presence  or absence  of  phytochemicals and was also tested against some gram positive and gram negative bacteria all according to standard procedures. All analysis was carried out at the Chemistry Laboratory of the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Ibadan for four weeks. The result of the free radical scavenging activity of the leaves (74.73 mg/kg) was higher than that of ascorbic acid (31.01 mg/kg) (a standard antioxidant). The qualitative analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponin, flavonoids, steroid, phenols phlobatanins and cardiac glycoside. The quantitative analysis on the other hand showed the presence of alkaloids in an appreciable amount (0.567%), followed by saponin (0.316%) while others had relatively low values (below 0.19%). The average values of the antibacterial (inhibitory) activity as compared with standard antibiotics used had no significant difference except for Pseudomonas sp. which was very low to the antibiotics used. It could be concluded that Jatropha curcas is of great medicinal potential.