Abstract

PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIPYRETIC, PURGATIVE STUDIES OF JATROPHA GOSSYPIFOLIA

Murugalakshmi. M*, Mari Selvi. J, Vallimail. M, Anitha Pushpa Rani. J andThangapandian.V

ABSTRACT

Jatropha gossypifolia (Euphorbiaceae) a common garden plant in tropical countries has been used as a traditional medicine. Plants are well known as a major source of modern medicines. From ancient times, humans have utilized plants for the treatment or prevention of diseases, leading to the dawn of traditional medicine. Jatropha gossypifolia is one of the plants that are used in Chinese, Ayurvedic and Thai traditional medicine for the treatment of fever, pain and dysentery. Preliminary phytochemical studies and Antipyretic, Purgative activities of ethyl alcohol and acetone extracts were investigated using albino rats of both the sexes. The phytochemical screening of ethanolic extracts of Jatropha gossypifolia leaves shows the presence secondary metabolites such as Saponin, Tannins, Phenols, Steroids, Glycosides, Flavonoids etc., The ethanolic and acetone extract of Jatropha gossypifolia have significant antipyretic activity and purgative activity. So the present study confirms the presence of valuable chemicals in Jatropha gossypifolia leaves and highlights the real potential of Jatropha gossypifolia leaves extracts in the preparation of versatile antipyretic and purgative drugs in future.

Keywords: Jatropha gossyifolia, Phytochemical studies, Antipyretic, purgative