ISSN 2326-7267
International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 2 (7), pp. 001-005, July, 2011. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Antimicrobial activity and phytochemical screening of stem bark extracts from Jatropha curcas (Linn)
O. O. Igbinosa1*, E. O. Igbinosa2 and O. A. Aiyegoro2
1University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine, Goldenrock, Sint Eustatius, Netherland-Antilies.
2Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa.
Accepted 16 March, 2011
Abstract
The in vitro antimicrobial activity of crude ethanolic, methanolic and water extracts of the stem bark of Jatropha curcas were investigated. The extracts exhibited antimicrobial activities with zones of inhibition ranging from 5 to 12, 8 to 20 and 0 to 8 mm for ethanol, methanol and water extracts respect-ively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the ethanol extract was between 0.5 and 6.25 mgml-1 while that of methanol extract ranged from 0.5 to 10 mgml-1. The minimum bactericidal concen-tration (MBC) for ethanol extract ranged between 2.0 and 12.50 mgml-1, while that of methanol ranged from 2.0 to 20 mgml-1. Again all the extracts exhibited appreciable activity against all the fungal species investigated. The zones of inhibition exhibited by the extracts against the test fungal species ranged between 15 and 18, 15 and 20 and 5 and 10 mm for ethanol, methanol and water extracts respectively. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponin, steroids, tannin, glycosides, alkaloids and flavonoids in the extracts. The ability of the crude stem extracts of J. curcas to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi is an indication of its broad spectrum antimicrobial potential which may be employed in the management of microbial infections.
Key words: Jatropha curcas, antimicrobial activity, phytochemical screening, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC).