Assessing the Phytochemical and Antibacterial Properties of Jatropha Curcas on Bacteria Isolates from Skin Infections

ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants have long been recognized as alternative sources of bioactive compounds with immense potential as antibiotics. Among these plants, Jatropha curcas, with a vast history of traditional use, has been chosen for this study focused on evaluating the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial potential of the leaf extracts against bacterial isolates that have been associated with skin infections. Ethanol and water were used as solvent for extraction. Antibacterial activity of the leaf extract were determined using agar well diffusion method on isolates which were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Pseudomonas sp. The antibacterial effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Jatropha curcas leaves showed stronger activity on the ethanolic extract with larger zones of inhibition, while the aqueous extract was less effective with this indicating the ethanolic extract’s potential as a natural antibacterial agent. Determined the Minimum Inhibitory and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MIC and MCB) using the broth dilution technique. The MIC and MBC results indicated that the ethanolic extract was more potent in inhibiting bacterial growth compared to the aqueous extract. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, and saponins showing higher concentrations of these bioactive compound and antibacterial potential in ethanolic extract. The study concludes that Jatropha curcas leaves possess significant antibacterial properties, particularly in the ethanolic extract, supporting their traditional use in treating skin infections. The findings suggest that Jatropha curcas could serve as a potential natural remedy, providing a cost-effective alternative to conventional antibiotics, particularly in resource-limited settings.