Analysis of the Phytochemical Content of Jatropha gossypifolia L.

Abstract

The use of plants to cure diseases is an age-old practice. The medicinal value of plants lies in chemical substances that produce physiological actions on the human body. Medicinal plants have traditionally occupied an important position in the health area of rural, urban and tribal India. The most important plant of ‘Eurphorbiaceae’ family i.e. one of the largest families of angiosperm is ‘Jatropha gossypifolia’. Commonly it is known as ‘bellyache bush’. It’s majorly found in parts of Africa and America. Its leaves are predominantely used for antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antianemic, antidiabetic, and antihemorrhagic. In the recent research work, the leaves of J. gossypifolia L. were used in various solvents such as Petroleum ether, Chloroform, Acetone, Alcohol and Water. The results confirmed the presence of saponin, tannin, flavonoid, organic acid, glycosides, diterpene, alkaloids, steroids, xanthoprotein, and starch. The overview of the study showed the presence of various secondary metabolites with medicinal value.

Key words : Phytochemical, Euphorbiaceae, Jatropha gossipifolia, Saponin, Flavonoid