Evaluation of phytochemical, bioactive, and antifungal potential of Jatropha curcas seed oil and de-oiled seed cake extracts against phytopathogenic fungi

In this study, the antifungal, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory (α-amylase), phytochemical and cytotoxicity profile of Jatropha curcas seed oil and de-oiled seed cake extracts was determined. The antifungal activities were investigated against different phytopathogenic fungi including Colletotrichum coccodes, Pythium ultimum, Phytophthora capsici, Rhizoctonia solani, Bipolaris oryzae and Fusarium fujikuroi . Methanolic extract was found to be highly fungicidal as compared to aqueous extract, n -hexane extract and seed oil, against P. capsici and F. fujikuroi . Methanolic extract was also found to possess significantly higher antioxidant potential ( p < 0.05) than the other extracts. Conversely, seed oil was found to be rich in cytotoxic phytochemicals and exhibited significantly higher ( p < 0.05) α-amylase inhibitory activity while remained more cytotoxic against brine shrimps than n -hexane, methanolic and aqueous extracts. Methanolic extract was found to possess significantly higher content of total phenolics and flavonoids ( p < 0.05) than the seed oil and other extracts. These results suggested that J. curcas seed oil and extracts can be further investigated for antimicrobial potential and as competent bio-pesticides.