The phytochemical and antioxidant profile of the ethanol leaf extract of Jatropha curcas L.

The growing interest in natural antioxidants has motivated research into medicinal plants with possible therapeutic benefits. Jatropha curcas L., sometimes known as physic nut, is a versatile plant that has long been employed in ethnomedicine in Africa and Asia. This study aimed to assess the phytochemical contents and antioxidant activity of J. curcas L.'s ethanolic leaf extract. The leaves were harvested, authenticated, dried, and extracted with ethanol by cold maceration. Phytochemical screening found flavonoids (1.12 ± 0.004%), saponins (1.35 ± 0.002%), tannins (1.12 ± 0.004%), alkaloids (1.70 ± 0.003%), terpenoids (0.80 ± 0.001%), and phenols (0.68 ± 0.008%). Four assays were used to determine antioxidant properties: DPPH radical scavenging, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), Total Phenolic Content (TPC), and Total Antioxidant Capacity. The extract demonstrated a dose-dependent free radical scavenging action, inhibiting 56.57% DPPH at 250 μg/mL and yielding a FRAP value of 5.46 at 500 μg/mL. TPC and TAC assays demonstrated significant antioxidant potency, with peak absorbance values of 2.74 and 2.92 at 1000 μg/mL and 200 μg/mL, respectively. These findings support the traditional usage of J. curcas leaves to treat oxidative stress-related illnesses and highlight their potential for the development of natural antioxidant treatments. This study contributes to current knowledge by giving empirical evidence of the bioactive and antioxidant capabilities of J. curcas leaves, which supports their use in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations.