Jatropha Curcas L.: A Comprehensive Study on Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Phytochemical Properties

Jatropha curcas L. has a longstanding history of utilization in traditional medical practices worldwide for many generations. The present investigation looked into the antibacterial and antioxidant effects as well as conducted phytochemical analyses of extracts derived from the roots and stems of Jatropha curcas L., using methanol and acetone as solvents. The antibacterial efficacy against both Gram-positive bacteria, namely Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes, as well as Gram-negative bacteria, specifically Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was assessed using the agar well diffusion technique. The evaluation of antioxidant capability was conducted through the utilization of the (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) DPPH-free radical scavenging test and the reducing power assay. To identify phytochemical constituents, preliminary phytochemical screening and GC–MS analysis were employed in the study. In antibacterial testing, stem extracts inhibited Staphylococcus aureus more effectively. In both extracts examined, root extracts inhibited Listeria monocytogenes with greater efficacy (34.27 mm in acetone and 24.68 mm in methanol). In the DPPH scavenging assay, the acetone root extract outperformed the methanol root extract, exhibiting an IC₅₀ value of 360.52 µg/ml. Additionally, in the reducing power analysis, it showed an EC₅₀ value of 998.4 µg/ml. The alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, carbohydrates, and proteins presence was identified during preliminary phytochemical screening. The GC–MS study of methanol stem extract identified eleven different bioactive compounds and thirty-nine in acetone root extract. Most of the aforementioned phytocomponents have been reported to have medical qualities; therefore, this study indicates that Jatropha curcas L. might possess a role in the manufacture of therapeutic medications as antibacterial and antioxidants adhering to further investigations.