Abstract
This study was conducted to assess the phytochemical, antistaphylococcal and antioxidant properties of the leaf and stem bark of Jatropha curcas and Jatropha gossypifolia. Ethanolic extract of the leaf and stem bark of Jatropha curcas and Jatropha gossypifolia was obtained using standard methods. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical properties of theJatropha plant was assessed using standard methods. Antistaphylococcal and minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts were assessed against Staphylococcal aureus obtained from different sources using agar diffusion method. Ferrous ion and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of the extracts were also determined using standard methods. Quantitative phytochemical screening revealed that the distribution of phytochemicals in the two Jatropha species do not follow a regular trend. However, saponin was highest in Jatropha curcas stem bark (35.64 mg/g) while Jatropha gossypifolia stem bark and leaf have the highest flavonoid (31.35 mg/g) and alkaloids (23.20 mg/g) respectively. The antistaphylococcal effect of the combined extract was higher and significantly different (P≤0.05) than when used singly. The highest antistaphylococcal effect (19.83mm) was recorded for the combination of Jatropha curcas and Jatropha gossypifolia leaf (JCL and JGL) against Staphylococcus aureus obtained from blood. Antioxidant assay of extracts revealed a concentration dependent effect. The antioxidant activities of the extracts vary from one extract to the other. The results obtained from this study indicates that bioactive compounds present in Jatropha curcas and Jatropha gossypifolia can be exploited as source of effective antistaphylococcal and antioxidant compounds.