Medical Benefit, Pharmacology and Toxicity of Jatropha Curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) : A Review

Abstract

Plants have long been used in traditional medicine to cure diseases and for that reason, they have also been a source of bioctives compounds for the development of pharmaceutical compounds. Jatropha curcas is one these plants known for its multiple purpose use. The present study was carried to check out through the litterure, the tradional use of this plant, the bioctive compounds isolated from it and some pharmacological properties evaluated by scientists. As a result, we found out that the traditional use of this plant is well known. Many bioactive compounds have been isolated from different parts of Jatropha curcas most of which are diterpene, sesquiterpene and triterpene. Those bioactive compounds could justify the traditional use of this plant. Many antimicrobial and antioxydant activities have been done but few studies were dedicated to its toxicity. So there is need to carry out more toxicity study in other to guarenty the safe use of this plant.