Effect of Detoxified Jatropha Cake on Hepatic and Renal Function following Long Term Feeding to Mice (original) (raw)

2016, Defence Life Science Journal

INTRODUCTION Jatropha curcas commonly known as physic nut belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. It is a hardy plant, thrives on degraded land and requires limited amounts of nutrients and water. The seeds contain about 300-350 gm/kg oil, which can be used as a fuel directly or in its trans esterified form, as a substitute for diesel. The proportions of shell and kernel range from 350 to 400 gm/kg and from 600 to 650 gm/kg, respectively. The seed weighs about 0.75 g and the kernel contains protein and lipid contents of 27-32% and 58-60%, respectively 1. The toxic component was isolated from the seeds of Jatropha curcas by Felke 2 and was designated as curcin, Barbieri 3 reported that curcin was type I RIP i.e. ribosome inactivating protein. Curcin is a Type I RIP with a molecular weight of about 28.2 kDa, which strongly inhibits the protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocyte lysate system with an IC 50 value of about (0.19±0.01 nMol/L). Beside curcin, the seed contain phorbol ester, trypsin inhibitor, saponin, lectin, HCN, alkaloids and resin etc which prevent it's use as feed for animal. Jatropha curcas seeds are highly toxic to a number of animal species. The toxicity is ascribed to the presence of phorbol esters. Other antinutrients present in high amounts in the seed are trypsin inhibitor, lectin, saponins, HCN, alkaloids, resin and phytate. In addition to the presence