Comparative analysis of phenolic and flavonoid content of Jatropha Curcas Linn.

Abstract

Jatropha species belong to the family Euphorbiaceae commonly called physic nut, purging nut or pig nut. Based on their economic and pharmaceutical importance, we investigated the total phenolic and flavonoid content of different parts of whole plant. The dried plant powder was subjected to Soxhlet extraction with methanol. Phenolic content was estimated using Folin ciocalteau reagent, flavonoid using aluminium chloride (2%) reagent as quercetin equivalent and TLC analysis using chloroform, benzene, hexane and ethyl acetate for the analysis of number of constituent in different extract. Methanolic extract of J. curcas leaf contain higher phenolic content (38.8±2.14) followed by latex (29.12±4.52) and root (26.15±3.84). Flavonoid contents was found to be maximum in cake (26.15±3.84) followed by latex (18.14±2.54). TLC analysis shows four to six spots in different extract showing varying number of components using hexane, chloroform and benzene solvent. The study revealed that the extracts of J. curcas showed presence of high amount of phenolic and flavonoid compounds especially presscake along with secondary metabolites suggesting its use for treatment of various infections.