Phytochemical and Biological Screening of Catholic Vegetable (Jatropha Tanjorensis) Aqueous Extract in Bali, Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

Jatropha tanjorensis has been used as a medicinal herb in treatment and management of disease because they are relatively safer, more affordable and sometimes offers better therapeutic value than synthetic drugs. The study investigated the phytochemical and biological screening of catholic vegetable (Jatropha tanjorensis) aqueous extract with the objectives of evaluating some secondary metabolites in the plant using standard qualitative methods and ascertaining the antimicrobial effect of Jatropha tanjorensis aqueous leave extract on bacteria of medical importance such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli using the agar well diffusion method. The results revealed that the extract of the leaf of J. tanjorensis contain some important bioactive components (phytochemicals) in a high amount such as saponins followed by flavonoids, alkaloid and tannins in moderate amount whereas phenol, phlobatannins and glycosides are in low amount. It also shows that the extract was active against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, K. pneumonia and S. typhi measuring clear zones of inhibition 30.0mm, 22.0mm, 19.0mm, 18.0mm and 17.0mm respectively. Thus, the exhibition of strong antibacterial activity and phytochemical profiles obtained from the analyses of J. tanjorensis leaf indicated that it might be recommended for human consumption and adequate amount of consumption could contribute greatly towards meeting human nutritional needs for normal body growth and adequate protection and curative measures to common diseases related to the test organisms.