Abstract

The Egyptian Jatropha crop has been studied for antioxidant activity in ethanol extracts from roots, stem, leaves and nodes. The radical scavenging activity of ethanolic extracts was evaluated with the stable diphenylpicryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. The antioxidant capacity of the studied organs have been revealed the roots and stem were the strongest in all tests followed by leaves and nodes were the least. All the extracts showed radical scavenging activity. Roots crud extract showed IC50 = 0.521 mg/ml. The presence of phenolic compounds and tannins were screened by Folin-Ciocalteau assay, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Ms/MSn and X-rays diffraction. The reduction power of ethanolic extracts was assayed too. This study suggested the Egyptian Jatropha curcas roots and stem are possible sources of natural radical scavengers.

Key words: Jatropha curcas, antioxidant activity, DPPH assay, phenolic compounds, HPLC determination, Msn – determination.