Abstract

PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ROOTS OF JATROPHA GLANDULIFERA

Sardar Khan S.* and Mangayarkarasi V.

ABSTRACT

Plants are being used for more than 1000 years to treat many diseases. Jatropha glandulifera commonly known as “Kattamannaku” is found all over India and especially in Tamilnadu. It belongs to family Euphorbiaceae. Jatropha species are used in traditional folklore medicine to cure various ailments in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Jatropha glandulifera a small bushy shrub with yellowish-green flowers and glandular hairs in the axils of the petiole are commonly found all over India. In ayurveda and ethnomedicine, it is reported for various therapeutic actions like-analgesic properties, inflammation, asthma, and bronchitis. The root extracts of J. glandulifera were screened for phytochemical properties and antibacterial activity using typical methods. Alkaloids, phenolic compounds, Triterpenoids, and glycosides were detected in chloroform, petroleum ether, ethanol, and ethyl acetate extracts while tannins, flavonoids, and saponins were not detected in all the extracts. Sensitivity testing of the extracts showed strong activity against all the test bacteria (Streptococci, Staphylococci, Salmonella typhi, and Escherichia coli), which increased with increasing concentration of the extracts (50 mg/ml, 100 mg/2ml, 100 mg/4ml, 100 mg/6ml). Thus, inhibition zones of 18.00 ± 0.82, 16.00 ± 0.50 mm and 12.00 ± 0.50, 10.00 ± 0.30 mm were recorded at the concentration of 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/4ml for the root against Salmonella typhi respectively. This supports the traditional use of the plant in curing human diseases. It is therefore suggested that further studies be carried out using different solvents as well as to isolate, purify and identify the active compounds present in the extracts with a view to justifying these claims.[11]

Keywords: Jatropha glandulifera, phytochemical screening, anti-bacterial activity.