title: Phytochemical characterization, antimicrobial activity and reducing potential of seed oil, latex, machine oil and presscake of Jatropha curcas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial activity, phytochemical studies and thin layer chromatography analysis of machine oil, hexane extract of seed oil and methanol extract of presscake & latex of Jatropha curcas Linn (family Euphorbiaceae).
  
  
  METHODS
  J. curcas extracts were subjected to preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening to detect the major phytochemicals followed by its reducing power and content of phenol and flavonoids in different fractions. Thin layer chromatography was also performed using different solvent systems for the analysis of a number of constituents in the plant extracts. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the disc diffusion method, while the minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration were calculated by micro dilution method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The methanolic fraction of latex and cake exhibited marked antifungal and antibacterial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, terpenoids, steroids, glycosides, phenols and flavonoids. Reducing power showed dose dependent increase in concentration compared to standard Quercetin. Furthermore, this study recommended the isolation and separation of bioactive compounds responsible for the antibacterial activity which would be done by using different chromatographic methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), GC-MS etc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the above study suggest that all parts of the plants possess potent antibacterial activity. Hence, it is important to isolate the active principles for further testing of antimicrobial and other biological efficacy.
authors: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 21005, UP India.
authors: Amit Kumar
authors: AK
authors: Sharma
authors: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi- 221005 UP India; Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi- 221005 UP India.
authors: Mayank
authors: M
authors: Gangwar
authors: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi- 221005 UP India.
authors: Dharmendra
authors: D
authors: Kumar
authors: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi- 221005 UP India.
authors: Gopal
authors: G
authors: Nath
authors: Department of Chemical Engg, Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Vanarasi-221005, UP India.
authors: Akhoury Sudhir
authors: AS
authors: Kumar Sinha
authors: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 21005, UP India.
authors: Yamini Bhushan
authors: YB
authors: Tripathi
keywords: Antimicrobial; Minimum bactericidal concentration; Phytochemical; Reducing power; Thin layer chromatography