BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OFJATROPHA NEOPAUCIFLORAPAX.
BACKGROUND
Ethnopharmacological relevance.Jatropha neopauciflora(Pax) is an endemic species of the Tehuacan- Cuicatlan Valley, Mexico. This species has long been used as a remedy to alleviate illnesses of bacterial, fungal and viral origin. Aim of the study. Experimentally test the traditional use ofJatropha neopauciflorain Mexican traditional medicine.


METHODS
The methanol extract (MeOH1), ofJatropha neopauciflora(Euphorbiaceae) was obtained by maceration. Next, the methanol (MeOH2) and hexane (H) fractions were obtained. The essential oil was obtained by hydro- distillation. The extract, fractions and essential oil were analyzed by GC-MS. The antimicrobial activity was measured by the disc diffusion agar and radial inhibition growth methods.


RESULTS
The extract and fractions showed antibacterial activity against eleven strains (five Gram-positive and six Gram- negative) and a bacteriostatic effect in the survival curves forStaphylococcus aureusandVibrio cholerae. The extract and fractions were also shown to have antifungal activity, particularly againstTrichophyton mentagrophytes(CF50= MeOH1: 1.07 mg/mL, MeOH2: 1.32 mg/mL and H: 1.08 mg/mL). The antioxidant activity of MeOH1 (68.6 μg/mL) was higher than for MeOH2 (108.1 μg/mL). The main compounds of the essential oil were β-pinene, 1,3,8-p-menthatriene, ledene, m- menthane, linalyl acetate and 3-carene. The main compounds of MeOH1 were β-sitosterol, lupeol and pyrogallol; the main compounds of MeOH2 were β-sitosterol, spathulenol, coniferyl alcohol and lupeol; and the main compounds of H were β-sitostenone, γ-sitosterol and stigmasterol.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates thatJatropha neopauciflorais a potential antibacterial and antifungal agent.
Posgrado en Biología Experimental, División en Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Iztapalapa, México; Laboratorio de Farmacognosia, UBIPRO Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala UNAM, Tlalnepantla, Edo, Méx, México.
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AB
Hernández-Hernández
Laboratorio de Farmacología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, DCBS, UAM-I, México, D.F., México.
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FJ
Alarcón-Aguilar
Instituto de Química UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria, D.F., México.
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Jiménez-Estrada
Laboratorio de Fisiología Vegetal, UBIPRO y Laboratorio Nacional en Salud, Facultad de Estudios Superiores-Iztacala UNAM, Edo. Mex, Tlalnepantla, Mexico.
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Hernández-Portilla
Laboratorio de Fisiología Vegetal, UBIPRO y Laboratorio Nacional en Salud, Facultad de Estudios Superiores-Iztacala UNAM, Edo. Mex, Tlalnepantla, Mexico.
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CM
Flores-Ortiz
Carrera de Medicina Facultad de Estudios Superiores-Iztacala UNAM, Tlalnepantla, Edo, Méx, México.
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MA
Rodríguez-Monroy
Laboratorio de Farmacognosia, UBIPRO Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala UNAM, Tlalnepantla, Edo, Méx, México.
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M
Canales-Martínez
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031286:Jatropha / Q000737:chemistry*; D008800:Mexico; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts
Antimicrobial activity; Euphorbiaceae; Jatropha; Medicinal plants