Antimicrobial Potential of Methanolic Extract and Various Fractions of Jatropha curcas Roots

The present study was conducted to explore the antimicrobial effectiveness and phytoconstituents of Jatropha curcas roots. Some of phytoconstituents as alkaloids, tannins, steroids, saponins, flavonoids and terpenoids were present in J. curcas roots. The antimicrobial activity was determined by the disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against a panel of microorganisms. Results indicated that all extracts and fractions possessed significant antibacterial and antifungal activities. While the methanolic extract showed magnificent antibacterial effect against P. multocida, E. coli and S. aureus with highest inhibition zones (IZ) and lowest MIC values (IZ = 35.1, 30.0 and 29.6 mm; MIC = 12.5, 28.5, 30.8 mg/mL) than standard drug rifampicin (IZ = 33.0, 27.0, 26.5 mm; MIC = 15.5, 39.1; 41.2 mg/mL), respectively. Comparative results were carried out using rifampicin for bacteria and fluconazole for fungi as standard antibiotics. It is concluded that J. curcas roots possessed considerable antimicrobial activity.