Antimicrobial Activity Of Jatropha Curcas On Sexually Transmitted Organisms

ABSTRACT

Jatropha curcas is an ornamental plant which is also employed to cure various infections in traditional medicine. The water and ethanol extracts of this plant were screened against different microorganisms responsible for various sexually transmitted diseases. The extracts displayed a potent antimicrobial activity against the target organisms giving MIC as low as 50mg/ml for both ethanol and water extracts. The results confirmed the potency of this plant in treating sexually transmitted infections. The tested organisms include bacteria: Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum, fungi: Candida albicans. The antibacterial activities of ethanol extracts of this plant was higher than the water extract and this could be attributed to active ingredient which could have led to concentration of extract. The inhibitory effects of the extract of J. curcas against these microorganisms introduce the plant as a potential candidate for drug development for the treatment of aliments caused by these pathogens.