Evaluation Of Antimicrobial And Anti-Inflammatory Activities Of Bark Of Jatropha gossypifolia

Antimicrobial and Anti-inflammatory potential of extracts of Jatropha gossypifolia were investigated. The anti-inflammatory activities of methanol and petroleum ether extracts of dried bark extracts of Jatropha gossypifolia were determined by oral administration of extracts at dose of 200 mg/kg of body weight to healthy animals. The extracts were studied for their anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced hind paw oedema in rats and the paw volume was measured plethysmometrically at 0 and 4 h after injection. The methanol and petroleum ether extracts of Jatropha gossypifolia, significantly (p<0.05) reduced 75 % and 56 % carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats. The methanol extract showed a potent anti-inflammatory activity in comparison to the standard drug, Diclofenac sodium (65 % reduction in paw oedema). The antimicrobial activity was determined by well diffusion method against the pathogenic microbial strains. The methanol extracts of bark of the plant showed prominent antimicrobial activity in comparison to petroleum ether extracts at specific dose 200 g/100 μl. The petroleum ether extracts showed no antimicrobial activity. These results indicated that the methanol extract of Jatropha gossypifolia exhibited more significant activity in the treatment of pain, inflammation and microbial infections.