The importance of plant is well known. Life and its growth cannot be imagined without plants. They not only produce food for survival but also create healthy environment and eco-friendly atmosphere to live. Jatropha gossypifolia Linn. well known plant of family Euphorbiaceae is used as a therapeutic agent. The leaf decoction of this plant is used for bathing wounds, sores, sprains, rash and bewitchment. In the present investigation the leaves of J. gossypifolia L. were screened for antibacterial activity by extracting them successively in various solvents such as Petroleum ether, Benzene, Chloroform, Acetone, Alcohol and Water. Crude powder of leaves was screened for the presence of chemically active compounds by standard methods and for antibacterial activity by zone of inhibition. The results revealed the presence of saponin, tannin, flavonoid, reducing sugars, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, triterpenoids, steroids, xanthoprotein, starch. The medicinal values of this plant could be attributed to the presence of one or more of the detected metabolites.
