“Assessment of Antimicrobial Properties, Phytochemical Screening, and Toxicity of Jatropha curcas L. and Ricinus communis L. Seed Oils”

Jatropha curcas and Ricinus communis, members of the Euphorbiaceae family, have been traditionally used for their medicinal properties. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial activity, phytochemical constituents, and toxicity of the seed oils from J. curcas and R. communis. The antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus niger was assessed using the Agar Well Diffusion method at concentrations of 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg/mL. Toxicity evaluation was conducted according to Lorke’s method for acute toxicity testing, and sub-acute toxicity was assessed by daily oral dosing of Wistar rats with 10, 300, and 600 mg/kg of body weight for 28 days. Haematological and biochemical analyses of blood samples, as well as histopathology of the liver and kidney, were performed.

J. curcas seed oil exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, with a mean inhibition zone of 32±3.17 mm, while the lowest activity was against A. niger, with a mean inhibition zone of 10±0.57 mm. Similarly, R. communis seed oil showed the highest antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, with a mean inhibition zone of 28±2.30 mm, and the lowest activity against A. niger, with a mean inhibition zone of 8±4.61 mm. The LD50 of J. curcas seed oil was greater than 5000 mg/kg of body weight, and the LD50 of R. communis seed oil was 3807 mg/kg of body weight.

In rats administered J. curcas seed oil, haematological and biochemical blood tests showed a decrease in TWBC, PLC, and L levels, while Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and RBCs increased. The 600 mg/kg bw.t group exhibited increased levels of AST, ALT, ALP, total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, and TAG, with a decrease in total protein and albumin levels. Similarly, rats administered R. communis seed oil at 300 and 600 mg/kg bw.t showed increased levels of various parameters, while the 10 mg/kg bw.t group exhibited comparable levels to the control group, again with a decrease in total protein and albumin levels. Histological evaluation revealed cyto-architectural distortion in the liver and kidney of rats administered 600 mg/kg bw.t of J. curcas seed oil and 300 and 600 mg/kg bw.t of R. communis seed oil.

In conclusion, both seed oils showed potential for treating diseases associated with the tested isolates. However, caution should be exercised regarding their usage at high doses for prolonged periods, particularly with R. communis seed oil. These findings provide a basis for further exploration of the wound healing activity of the seed oils.

“Assessment of Antimicrobial Properties, Phytochemical Screening, and Toxicity of Jatropha curcas L. and Ricinus communis L. Seed Oils.