PHYTOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE SEEDS OF JATROPHA CURCAS LINN. (EUPHORBIACEAE)
- Project Research
- 1-5 Chapters
- Abstract : Available
- Table of Content: Available
- Reference Style: APA
- Recommended for : Student Researchers
- NGN 3000
ABSTRACT
Jatropha curcas Linn. (Euphorbiaceae) is a shrub that grows up to 5m in height. It thrives well in tropical countries. It grows in the wild as an uncultivated, non-food plant. It is traditionally used as a living fence to protect gardens from animals. An ethnobotanical survey of the seed of J. curcas was carried out in parts of Zaria and Zonkwa in Kaduna State of Nigeria. The seeds are used in traditional medicine for analgesic, antimicrobial, purgative, laxative and aphrodisiac purposes. Sometimes, the seeds serve as food when cooked. Some of the common toxic effects of direct consumption of the seeds include purging, body weakness, convulsion and abdominal pains. Pharmacognostic study of the seed was carried out including macroscopy, microscopy and the determination of some physical standards. A study on the phytochemical constituents and biological activities of J. curcas seeds was carried out. The thin layer chromatographic analysis using random solvent systems showed rich composition of chemical constituents like flavanoids, steroids and triterpenes using various solvent systems. The seed extract was tested for analgesic activity using the acetic acid induced writhing response in mice. Chemomicroscopic and fluorescence analyses of the seed were carried out. Using agar well diffusion method, the methanolic extract of J. curcas seeds and four fractions of the extract; petroleum ether fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, n-butanol fraction and aqueous fraction, were used for antimicrobial test. Two fold serial dilution of the extract and fractions were made to obtain 200mg/ml, 100mg/ml, 50mg/ml, 25mg/ml, viii 12.5mg/ml, 6.25mg/ml, 3.13mg/ml and 1.57mg/ml. The test organisms were; Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus pyogenes and Candida albicans. The seed oil was found to have an acid value of 5.61 and a saponification value of 297.33. Preliminary phytochemical studies revealed the presence of flavonoids, carbohydrates, saponins, tannins and steroids. Acute toxicity test revealed that the methanolic extract has an LD50 of 471.17 mg/kg in albino mice, making it very toxic. The seed methanolic extract significantly (P<0.05) reduced writhes induced by acetic acid. The results of the analgesic test were comparable to the standard drug (paracetamol 100mg/kg). Although not all organisms were susceptible throughout, it was discovered that the methanolic extract, aqueous fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, n-butanol fraction and petroleum ether fraction generally exhibited activity against the test organisms at 50- 200µg/ml concentrations. Thus, the results obtained justified the use of J. curcas seeds in traditional medicine for analgesic and antimicrobial purposes.
Related Project Materials
ASSESSMENT OF SKILLS ACQUISITION VIA SOCIAL MEDIA AMONG UNDERGRADUATES
Background of the study
Globally tertiary education is an instrument of for economic and human developm...
THE IMPACT OF TELEVISION ADVERTISING ON CONSUMER PRODUCT PURCHASING IN NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
This work was conducted for the purpose of evaluating the Impact of television advertisement o...
CHALLENGES AND PROSPECT IN BUGGETARY SYSTEM IN PUBLIC SERVICE IN NIGERIA
Background to the Study
Budgeting is an important concept that is pertinent to any organization (Schado...
IMPACT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS IN FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC
ABSTRACT
This research project was embarked upon to evaluate the role of public relations in the bankin...
ASSESSMENT OF MICRONUTRIENTS IN CHILDREN WITH MALARIA INFECTION
ABSTRACT
The increased clinical state of malaria infection may be due to poor nutritional status m...
IMPACT OF LEARNING ENVIRONMENT ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
ABSTRACT
This research work centered on the influence of learning environment on the academic performan...
A CRITIQUE OF THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL IN PROMOTING PEACE AND SECURITY UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW
ABSTRACT
The international community saw the need for unity, peace, cooperation, and a state of security. This task was given the UNSC. B...
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
ABSTRACT
There has been a rising concern on the security of the country. This project is focused on studying the effect of Law enforcemen...
THE STRUCTURE AND COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTIONS OF NIGERIAN ENGLISH AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON TEACHING WRITING SKILLS AT THE SSS LEVEL
ABSTRACT
English as it is spoken in Nigerian (Nigerian English) has been localized or internalized, so to say. This...
THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN ENSURING PEACE AND HARMONY IN THE SOCIETY
ABSTRACT
This study was carried out on examine the role of church in ensuring peace and harmony in the society usi...
