Jatropha Toxicity—A Review

Abstract

Jatropha is a nonedible oil seed plant belonging to Euphorbiaceae family. Global awareness of sustainable and alternative energy resources has propelled research on Jatropha oil as a feedstock for biodiesel production. During the past two decades, several cultivation projects were undertaken to produce Jatropha oil. In future, the increased cultivation of toxic Jatropha plants and utilization of its agro-industrial by-products may raise the frequency of contact with humans, animals, and other organisms. An attempt was thus made to present known information on toxicity of Jatropha plants. The toxicity of Jatropha plant extracts from fruit, seed, oil, roots, latex, bark, and leaf to a number of species, from microorganisms to higher animals, is well established. Broadly, these extracts possess moluscicidal, piscicidal, insecticidal, rodenticidal, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties, and exert adverse effects on animals including rats, poultry, and ruminants. The toxicity attributed to these seeds due to their accidental consumption by children is also well documented. An attempt was also made to identify areas that need further study. The information provided in this review may aid in enhancing awareness in agroindustries involved in the cultivation, harvesting, and utilization of Jatropha plants and its products with respect to the potential toxicity of Jatropha, and consequently in application and enforcement of occupational safety measures. Data on the wide range of bioactivities of Jatropha and its products were collated and it is hoped will create new avenues for exploiting these chemicals by the phamaceutical industry to develop chemotherapeutic agents.

Influence of Treatment of <i>Jatropha curcas</i> L. Leachates and Potassium on Growth and Phytochemical Constituents of Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.)

“…Press cake is used to improve soil and for the production of biogas. Apart from the oil Jatropha curcas is a significant source of many phytochemicals with varying biological activities [3].…”

Evaluation of Jatropha curcas as Potential Biocide and Biopesticide

“…Majority of these diterpenes are cytotoxic, antitumor and antimicrobial activities while the phorbol ester, lignans, cyclic peptides, terpenes and Jatropherol display insect deterrent and a broad range of biological activities (Devappa et al, 2010b). Further phytochemical analysis of the root, stem and petiole of the plant showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, terpenoids, steroids, glycosides, phenols and flavonoids (Sharma et al, 2012) which are known to have bactericidal, fungicidal and antimicrobial properties (Rachana et al, 2012;Narayani et al, 2012;Egharevba and Kunle, 2013).…”

Reverse Transcription-PCR analysis of geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (JcGGPPS) in Jatropha curcas L. and in silico analysis of Casbene Synthase (JcCS) among Euphorbiaceae

“…In addition, J. curcas also contains diverse phytochemicals content, including alkaloids, polyphenols, lignins and diterpenes [17]. Due to its valuable content of phytochemicals, J. curcas is potentially used for industrial applications [18].…”