Studies on Nutritive Potential and Toxic Constituents of Different Provenances of Jatropha curcas

Abstract

Eighteen different provenances of Jatropha curcas from countries in West and East Africa, North and Central America, and Asia were characterized for nutrient and antinutritional factors. The mean weight of the 18 seed provenances was 0.64 ± 0.10 g (mean ± sd). The kernel forms a large proportion of the seed and accounts for 61.3% ± 3.1%. There were large variations in the contents of CP (19−31%; 26.0% ± 3.2%), lipid (43−59%; 53.0% ± 4.8%), neutral detergent fiber (3.5−6.1%; 5.0% ± 0.87%), and ash (3.4−5.0%; 4.2% ± 0.52%) in kernels. The gross energy of kernels was relatively similar (28.5−31.2 MJ/kg; 30.1 ± 0.80 MJ/kg). Trypsin inhibitor activity in the defatted kernels (meal) varied from 18.4−27.5 mg of trypsin inhibited/g. Similarly a wide variation was observed for saponins (1.8%−3.4% as diosgenin equivalent), phytate (6.2%−10.1% as phytic acid equivalent), and lectin activity, inverse of minimum amount of the sample in milligrams per milliliter of the assay which produced agglutination (0.85−6.85 using a latex agglutination test and 51.3−204 using a hemagglutination assay) in the meals. Tannins, amylase inhibitor, glucosinolates, and cyanogens were not detected in any of the meals. Phorbol esters were not detected in the seeds collected in Papantla, Mexico, whereas the level of phorbol esters in the remaining 17 provenances ranged from 0.87 to 3.32 mg/g of kernel. Keywords: Jatropha curcas; physic nut; nutrients; trypsin inhibitor; lectins; phorbol esters; phytate

Protection of biodiesel and oil from degradation by natural antioxidants of Egyptian Jatropha

“…Each fruit contains 2-3 oblong black seeds which can produce oil. The seed kernel oil contained 40-60 % (w/ w) oil (Makkar et al, 1997). The seed oil extracted is found useful in medicinal and veterinary purpose, as insecticide, for soap production and as fuel substitute (Gubitz et al, 1999).…”

Insufficient Evidence of Jatropha curcas L. Invasiveness: Experimental Observations in Burkina Faso, West Africa

“…The seeds of most known J. curcas accessions are highly toxic, including the African accessions, due to the presence of cursive ingredients such as curcin and phorbol esters [63,64]. Yet, the current study demonstrated that J. curcas can be dispersed and eaten by small mammals.…”

Nutritional Evaluation and Effectiveness of Detoxified <i>Jatropha curcas</i> Kernel Meal in Finishing Pig Diets on Biogas and Methane Production from Slurry

“…In relation to bioactive molecules analyzed in DJCM (Table 2), phorbol esters content (0.06 mg/g) is lower than that found for Makkar et al (1997), who evaluated the content of these in nontoxic to the animals varieties (0.11 mg/g), by Rakshit et al (2008) evaluating DJCM in diet for rats (0.2 mg/g). Chivandi et al (2006), evaluating the effect of different methods of detoxification in the Jatropha curcas meal with 0.8 mg/g of phorbol esters, observed significant losses in pigs blood parameters.…”

“…The concentrations of phorbol esters were analyzed following the method by Makkar et al (1997), the contents of total phenols and total tannins analyzed by Folin-Ciocalteu, condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins) by the butanol-HCl method (Makkar, 2000) and the concentration of saponins analyzed according to Makkar et al (2007).…”