Jatropha Tanjorensis - Review of Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Pharmacotherapy

Jatropha tanjorensis (L) (Fam – Euphorbiaceae), which has been consumed as leafy vegetable and as medicinal plant in Nigeria has shown hematological, antimalarial, antimicrobial, hypoglyceamic, hypolipidemic and antihypertensive activities. This review focuses on valuable knowledge of traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of Jatopha tanjorensis against some tropical diseases, in order to highlight its therapeutic potentials with a view to integrate it into conventional medical use. Several classes of phytochemical compounds such as the polyphenols, saponins, tannins and alkaloids have been associated with the plant. It has also been shown to possess a wide spectrum of biological activities such as antiplasmodial (antimalarial), anti microbial, antiparasitic, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic and as remedy for anaemia. The review has thus provided a comprehensive and critical appraisal of the phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity of Jatropha tanjorensis in the tropics. Based on the findings of this work, future study on the phytochemistry and chemical constituents in relation to certain other biological activities are required to fully understand the phytochemical and complex pharmacological effect of the plant specie. Further work to isolate active compounds from the plant is also necessary. Keywords: Jatropha tanjorensis , Pharmacology, Phytochemistry, medicinal uses Journal of Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences , Vol. 10 No. 3 (2013)