title: A comparison of polyphenolic content, antioxidant activity and insecticidal properties of Jatropha species and wild Ricinus communis L. found in Mauritius.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the phytochemical, antimicrobial and insecticidal properties of different Jatropha species and Ricinus communis (castor) (R. communis) growing in Mauritius.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative and quantitative methods were used for the determination of the presence of phytochemicals in the crude plants solvent extracts. The antimicrobial sensitivity (disc diffusion method) and Antibacterial activity (MIC-microdilution method) of 13 microorganisms were studied. The insecticidal properties of the crude solvent extracts against larvae of two insects, Bactrocera zonata and Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera, Tephritidae), which cause important economic losses to local fruits were also demonstrated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ethyl acetate was proved to be a good solvent for extraction. Jatropha multifida showed very interesting activity against Bacillus algicola and Staphylococcus epidermis. Both R. communis and Jatropha multifida were proved to be very effective as biopesticide against different types of insect larvae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study was able to demonstrate that Jatropha species as well as R. communis growing in Mauritius possess antimicrobial, phytochemical and insecticidal properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture & Food Science Faculty of Agriculture University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius.
authors.forename: Sillma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rampadarath
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture & Food Science Faculty of Agriculture University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius. Electronic address: sudeshp@uom.mu.
authors.forename: Daneshwar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Puchooa
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture & Food Science Faculty of Agriculture University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius.
authors.forename: Vijayanti Mala
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Ranghoo-Sanmukhiya
keywords: Antimicrobial; Insecticidal; Jatropha curcas; Phytochemical; Ricinus communis