Abstract

Everlyne Moraa Isoe* and Okoye George Kubende

ABSTRACT

The study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activity of Jatropha curcas ethanolic, methanolic, hexane, and ethyl acetate extracts obtained from stem bark. The methods used for phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activity were standard qualitative tests and disc diffusion method respectively. Alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, steroids, and flavonoids were present in all extracts. Saponins and phenols were absent in ethyl acetate and hexane extracts but they were present in ethanolic and methanolic extracts the anthraquinones and tannins were absent in all the extracts. All the extracts managed to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi used. The Escherichia coli was observed to be most sensitive to hexane extract with a mean inhibition zone of 18.5mm. The Staphylococcus aureus was observed to be most sensitive to methanol extract with a mean inhibition zone of 15.5mm. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa was observed to be most sensitive to ethanol extract with the mean zone of inhibition of 17mm. Bacillus subtilis were observed to be most sensitive to methanolic extract with the mean zone of inhibition of 12mm. Finally, the Fusarium oxysporium was observed to be the most sensitive to ethanol extract with a mean inhibition zone of 14mm. Therefore, the outcome study shows that Jatropha curcas stem bark could be exploited for new potent antibacterial and antifungal agents.