Objective

Jatropha podagrica is extensively used in traditional medicine to cure several illnesses, including infectious and non-communicable diseases. This current study investigated the effects of extracts from different parts of this plant on the bacteria causing intestinal diseases, including Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella spp., thereby unveiling a potential therapeutic approach to these bacteria.

Methods

Jatropha podagrica leaves, stems, and roots were extracted using 70% ethanol. The extract was then fractionated with n-hexane and ethyl acetate. Antibacterial assays, including agar well diffusion and MIC - MBC determination, were carried out. Bioactive compounds were docked with bacterial target proteins using AutoDock Vina. Binding interactions were analyzed. SwissADME, ProTox-3.0, and STopTox were used to assess the drug-likeness and toxicity of selected compounds. Data were expressed as mean ± SD using Microsoft Excel 2010.

Results

Extracts of J. podagrica roots and stems exhibited antibacterial activities against the selected pathogens, with the ethyl acetate fraction showing the highest potential. The extracts had higher effectiveness towards Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria. Further experiments demonstrated that the ethyl acetate fraction extract of J. podagrica roots identified bactericidal effects against selected pathogens, while the n-hexane fraction extract exhibited bacteriostatic effects against these pathogens based on MIC-MBC ratio. Molecular docking analysis indicated that the compound jatrophone had adequate binding affinity to ADP and higher binding affinity to PBP1a and PBP5 compared to the standard drug.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that J. podagrica could be a potential source of antibacterial agents, warranting further investigation for therapeutic applications.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578X251342461