Assessment of Antibacterial Properties of Jatropha tanjorensis

Aim: This study aimed at evaluating the Phytochemical and antibacterial properties of Jatropha tanjorensis against selected test bacteria. Methods: The antibacterial properties were tested using the agar-well diffusion technique. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the extracts were also determined. Phytochemical analysis of the hot and cold extracts revealed presence of flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, anthraquinones and tannis. Results: Results obtained revealed that the cold extracts were more effective than the hot extracts. Cold extracts of Jatropha tanjorensis leaf has antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. Hot extracts of Jatropha tanjorensis stem has very little antibacterial activity against S. marcescens at low concentrations with no MBC. Cold extract of Jatropha tanjorensis leaf was bactericidal for S. aureus at 250 mg/ml.  Salmonella sp., E. coli, Pseudomonas sp., S. pyogenes, Serratia marcescens and Serratia marcescens were resistant to HE of Jatropha tanjorensis leaf and stem respectively. Conclusion: This study shows that there are phytochemicals present in Jatropha tanjorensis. The plant shows antibacterial properties against some bacteria, namely: Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Escherichia coli, indicating that they can be used as antimicrobials.