Poisonous parts of the Jatropha

Main Toxins:
Curcin - a phytotoxin (toxalbumin), found mainly in the seeds and also in the fruit and sap.

Purgative oil - the seed yields 40% oil, known as hell oil, pinheon oil, oleum infernale or oleum ricini majoris, which contains small amounts of an irritant curcanoleic acid, which is related to ricinoleic acid and crotonoleic acid, the principle active ingredients of castor oil and croton oil respectively (Joubert et al., 1984).

Other Toxins:

These genera also may contain hydrocyanic acid (CRC Critical Reviews in Toxicology 1977). There may be a dermatitis producing resin (Lampe & Fagerstrom, 1968).

There may be an alkaloid, and a glycoside which

Produce cardiovascular and respiratory depression. Tetramethylpyrazine (TMPZ), an amide alkaloid has been obtained from the stem of J. podagrica (Ojewole & Odebiyi, 1981). Atropine-like effects have also been reported following ingestion of Jatropha multifida (Aplin
1976).

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posted by Sudha @ 7:36 PM