Antimicrobial, total phenolic and total flavonoid properties of leaves and seed of Jatropha curcas, Piper nigrum L. and Piper betle methanolic crude extracts

ABSTRACT

Aims: Herbal and medicinal plants bioactive compounds of Jatropha curcas, Piper nigrum and P. betle have been shown to possess therapeutic properties. This study investigates the presence and characterization of phytochemical compounds as well as to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of the methanolic crude extract of the leaves and seeds of J. curcas, P. nigrum L. and P. betle. Methodology and results: The study on antibacterial and antifungal efficacy of the crude extracts of leaves and seeds were carried out using standard disc diffusion method. The crude extracts were found to exhibit an average response of antimicrobial activity with the inhibition zones ranged from 3% to 28% for antibacterial and from 21% to 79% for antifungal activity. Among all extracts, the leaf extract of P. betle showed a good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and excellent antifungal properties against Aspergillus niger and A. flavus. The phytochemical screening analysis revealed the presence of saponin, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids, reducing sugar, flavonoid and anthraquinones. However, phlobatannins was not present. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were highly detected in the crude extract of P. betle and recorded as 13.33 mg of gallic acid equivalents, GAE (mg/ 100 mg sample) and 0.88 mg of RE (mg/100 mg sample), respectively. GC-MS analysis of the bioactive compounds reveals the presence of diethyl phthalate, 2-hexadecen-1-ol (Phytol), hexadecanoic acid, piperine, phenol and other minor compounds. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The study suggested that P. betle has a potential as a source for antimicrobial agent from plants extracts. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to elucidate their precise mechanism of action.