Phytochemistry and <i>in vitro</i> antiplasmodial properties of aqueous and ethanol stem bark extracts of <i>Jatropha curcas</i> (Physic Nut)

Abstract

The increasing prevalence and distribution of malaria is due to a number of factors, one of which is the emergence and spread of drug resistant parasites. Efforts are now being directed towards the discovery and development of new chemically diverse reports on the phytochemistry and in vitro antiplasmodial properties of aqueous and ethanol stem bark extract of Jatropha curcas. Maceration method of extraction was used. The two extracts were assayed at various concentrations of 10 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, 2.5 mg/ml and 1.25 mg/ml for antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum and were also screened for the presence of phytochemicals following standard procedure. The phytochemicals detected from both extracts were alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, anthranol glycosides, saponins, phytosterols, phenols, flavonoids, protein and amino acids and diterpenes. The result of antiplasmodial activity revealed that both the aqueous and ethanol stem bark extracts of Jatropha curcas malaria parasite. However, the aqueous extract showed statistically (P<0.05) higher activities than the ethanol extract. At extract concentration of 10mg/ml, both the ethanol and aqueous extracts produced the highest parasite clearance rate after 72 hours incubation period, with percentage elimination of 77%. From these observations, Jatropha curcas is likely to contain promising chemical compounds which can be utilized as an effective plant treatment of malaria.