RESUMO
The dried latex of Jatropha curcas was formulated into ointments of 2.5; 5 and 10 w/w concentrations in hydrocarbon base B.P.C; using the fusion and levigation methods. The efficacy of the ointments was evaluated in-vitro using the agar diffusion method and cup-plate technique with the following organisms: Escherichia coli (N.C.T.C. 10418); Staphylococcus aureus (N.C.T.C. 6571); Microsporum sp.; Epidermophyton sp. and Trichophyton sp.; which were clinical isolates. For the in-vivo studies; volunteers with Tinea capitis from a primary school were used. The results indicated that the ointment formulations were active both in-vitro and in-vivo. The activities of the test formulations compared favorably with those from the standard formulations; i.e. Whitfield's ointment B.P. and penicillin ointment B.P.C. The results also indicated that the stability of latex was maintained within the ointment base over the nine months period of storage