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Poultry wastes contain metals which have permissible limits in crops for safe consumption by man and animals. Seasonal contents of heavy metals in soil and edible portions of five broadly eaten vegetables in Nigeria [Amaranthus (Amaranthus viridis), Gruty-stalked jatropha (jatropha podagrica), Scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum), Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) and Water leaf (Talinum triangulare)] were evaluated in poultry farms within the state of Osun, Nigeria. Heavy metals contents in the digested samples were determined with Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Quality assurance techniques included blank determination, recovery analysis and calibration of standards. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data interpretations. Analytical results of poultry farm soils revealed that dry and wet seasons values for Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn were within the acceptable range, but As values for dry and wet seasons (323.10 and 351.41 µg/g respectively) were higher than acceptable values of a typical agricultural soil. Highest contents of As (42.042 µg/g), Cd (0.550 µg/g) and Pb (0.618 µg/g) were recorded for Amaranthus viridis; the highest Cu level (0.998 µg/g) was present in Ocimum gratissimum; Fe had its highest content (148.031 µg/g) in Vernonia amygdalina; while Talinum triangulare had the highest Zn level (62.073 µg/g). Levels of heavy metals in vegetables were higher in the dry season than the wet season but this variation was not statistically different at p < 0.05. Similarly, the levels of As and Fe were above the safe values in plants in both seasons, while Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were below the safe value. Enrichment factor values implied that the poultry farm soils were significantly enriched with Cu, Pb and Zn, but heavily enriched with As, Cd and Fe as a result of anthropogenic inputs. Specifically, the soils were heavily contaminated with the duo of very toxic elements, As and Cd.

Jatropha is considered as one of the most promising potential oil sources for biodiesel production and other industrial applications. However, research on the potential of Jatropha seed oil is mainly focused on Jatropha curcas, with other species receiving little attention. The physicochemical properties of J. podagrica seed oil was studied to determine its potential as feedstock for biodiesel production and other industrial applications in Thailand. The seed oil was extracted with n-hexane from milled kernels using the soxhlet extractor and subsequently characterised for free fatty acids, iodine value, viscosity, saponification value, density, and acid value. The fatty acid profile of the seed oil was also analysed using gas chromatography (GC). Analysis of the physical properties of the J. podagrica seed kernel showed lower average physical characteristics when compared to those of J. curcas seed kernel. J. podagrica seeds had high oil content comparable to J. curcas oil content. The main fatty acid components of the seed oil were oleic acid (15%) and linoleic acid (70%). Generally, the results of the physicochemical analysis indicated that J. podagrica seed oil would be very useful for the production of soap and shampoo in Thailand. To produce biodiesel from the seed oil, a two-step acid-catalysed transesterification process would be appropriate.

Jatropha biodiesel produced from Jatropha podagrica oil by alkaline-catalysed transesterification was blended with diesel in the ratios of 88:12 wt% (B88) and 12:88 wt% (B12). The fuel properties, consumption rate and exhaust gas emission characteristics of J. podagrica biodiesel, diesel and their blends were assessed. The results showed that J. podagrica seed oil have similar fatty acid profile with those of Jatropha curcas cultivated in Thailand and other South-East Asian countries. Blending of J. podagrica biodiesel and diesel enhanced the fuel properties of the blends, similar to those of the diesel. However, the B88 blend emitted lesser pollutants when compared to B12 and petrol diesel, making it very ideal for use as a promising alternative to the petrol diesel used in the mini tractor for farming activities. The results from the current study form a basis for further research on the use of B88 as a fuel source.

Two new lathyrane-type diterpenoids, jatropodagins A and B (1 and 2), and five known analogues (3–7), were isolated from the stems of Jatropha podagrica. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic data and calculated ECD analyses. The cytotoxicities of all the lathyrane-type diterpenoids (1–7) were evaluated against two human osteosarcoma cell lines (Saos-2 and MG-63). Compound 1 exhibited significant cytotoxic effects against Saos-2 and MG-63 with IC50 values of 8.08 and 14.64 μM, respectively. The IC50 values for the positive control 5-FU against the Saos-2 and MG-63 cell lines were 19.01 and 25.00 μM, respectively. Morphological features of apoptosis activities were evaluated in 1-treated Saos-2 cells and the results confirmed apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.

The phylogenetic relationships between the toxic and the non-toxic variety of Jatropha curcas and its sister species Jatropha podagrica and Jatropha gossypifolia from North East India were assessed using the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA ITS) and the maturaseK gene (matK) of chloroplast. For both the marker system, the maximum genetic distance was maintained between J. podagrica and J. curcas. The % (G + C) content of the matK region was markedly lower than that of the ITS region. ITS biomarkers were able to detect 111 variable sites while only 4 substitutions were detected in highly conserved matK region. The obtained results delineated that, in comparison to matK, ITS sequencing can provide valuable information during interpopulation analysis of Jatropha species.

Jatrogricaine A (1), a new diterpenoid possessing a 5/6/6/4 carbon ring system, together with eight known diterpenoids (2-9) were isolated from the stems of Jatropha podagrica. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods and the absolute configuration of 1 was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. All compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activities in vitro, and compound 3 showed significant inhibitory effects against nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells with an IC50 of 13.44 ± 0.28 μmol·L-1, being comparable to the positive control, quercetin (IC50 17.00 ± 2.10 μmol·L-1).

Some Jatropha species such as Jatropha podagrica, J. multifida, and J. integerrima are grown in India as ornamental plants. The severe yellow mosaic disease symptoms were observed in these three species at CSIR-NBRI garden, Lucknow, in the year 2009–2011. Infection of begomovirus was suspected based on typical yellow mosaic and infestation of whiteflies. Association of begomovirus with mosaic disease was detected by polymerase chain reaction using begomovirus gene-specific primers which resulted in the ~1.2 kb amplicons in all these ornamental species of Jatropha. For molecular identification of associated begomovirus species, the ~1.2 kb amplicons were sequenced and sequence data were analyzed. The highest sequence identities of ~1.2 kb (partial DNA-A) genome that showed close phylogenetic relationships with Jatropha mosaic India virus in J. podagrica, Tomato leaf curl Patna virus in J. multifida, and Papaya leaf curl virus in J. integerrima were identified. We have summarized in this chapter worldwide distribution of mosaic disease associated with begomovirus species of ornamental Jatropha species including India based on their genome sequence analysis and genetic diversity.

Se examinó la micromorfología y la fitoquímica cuantitativa de J. integerrima y J. podagrica para para identificar caracteres útiles para la delimitación taxonómica, siguiendo protocolos estandarizados, descritos por autores anteriores. Ambas especies son hipostómicas (paracíticas). Los tricomas (multicelulares, no glandulares) estaban presentes sólo en la superficie adaxial de J. integerrrima y ausentes en otras superficies epidérmicas. Los análisis fitoquímos también señalaron pequeñas diferencias en la cantidad de compuestos bioactivos presentes en ambas especies. El contenido de fenol es el mayoritario en ambas especies: 37.65% en J. integerrima y 36.13% en J. podagrica. Las semejanzas y diferencias de los caracteres epidérmico-foliares y contenidos fitoquímicos pueden ser empleadas para delimitar taxonomicamente ambas especies. The leaf micro-morphology and quantitative phytochemistry of J. integerrima and J. podagrica were examined to find useful characters for the delimitation of taxa, following standard protocols as described by previous authors. Both species are hypostomatic (paracytic). Trichome (multicellular, non-glandular) are only present on the adaxial surface of J. integerrima and absent in other epidermal surfaces. Phytochemical analysis also showed little differences in the amount of bioactive compounds present in both species. Phenol contents are the highest in the two species: 37.65% in J. integerrima and 36.13% in J. podagrica. The similarities and differences in the foliar epidermal characters and phytochemical content can be used to delimit the two studies species, as taxonomic characters.

Morphological parameters of several Jatropha species, namely Jatropha curcas L., Jatropha gossypifolia L., Jatropha podagrica Hook., Jatropha integerrima Jacq. and Jatropha multifida L. were subjected to quantitative analysis within the present study. Twelve traits of the leaves, fruits and seeds were analysed: leaf length, leaf width, leaf length/width ratio, petiole length, petiole width, fruit length, fruit width, fruit length/width ratio, seed length, seed width, fruit stalk length and fruit stalk width were subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis. Highly significant positive correlations have been noted, while negative correlation was observed between leaf width and leaf length/width ratio, fruit width and leaf length/width ratio. Traits such as leaf length, leaf width and leaf length/width ratio contributed significantly along with other traits to discriminate the studied Jatropha species. J. podagrica and J. integerrima were found to have more similarities, with a stronger coefficient of agglomeration (69.072) than J. curcas and J. podagrica with 315.028 coefficient of agglomeration respectively. The generated dendrogram showed the relationship between the studied Jatropha species, whereas great affinity was noted between J. podagrica and J. multifida as compared with J. gossypifolia and J. integerrima which are distantly related. The closeness observed between J. podagrica and J. multifida is in line with their current sub-generic grouping.

During study of endophytic fungal diversity in tropical region, a new species of Arthrinium was isolated from healthy petiole of Jatropha podagrica . It is characterized by aseptate, dark brown, circular, lenticular conidia with hyaline margin, broad, hyaline conidiophores with numerous brown septa and ampulliform–lageniform conidiophore mother cells. The new species superficially resembles A. phaeospermum and A. saccharicola in having circular lenticular conidia, but differs in conidia and conidiophore size, and shape of conidiophore mother cells. Phylogenetic study using sequence analysis of ITS region (ITS1–5.8S–ITS2) separates the new species ( A. jatrophae ) from other related species of Arthrinium .

Corynascus verrucosus , a member of Chaetomiaceae, is described and illustrated as second record for science and new to India. It was isolated as endophyte from flower bud of Jatropha podagrica. It is characterized by non-ostiolate ascomata, peridium with brown appendages and ellipsoidal ascospores with acute ends and two sub-terminal to oblique germ pores. Its anamorph was produced on all media tested. The ascomata and ascospores are somewhat smaller than those described for the holotype of this species. The morphological identification is supported by ITS DNA sequence data.

A new endophytic species of Chaetomium from fruits of Jatropha podagrica is described from Maharashtra State, India. A combined sequence dataset of the ITS region, LSU rDNA, and β-tubulin genes supports recognition of this fungus as a new species that is largely concordant with morphological characters. Chaetomium jatrophae is characterized by spirally coiled, predominantly unbranched, and coarsely roughened terminal ascomatal hairs and elongate-ellipsoidal ascospores with a subapical or lateral germ pore. It is a mesophilic Chaetomium species with a temperature maximum of 40±0.2°C.

Pseudofusicoccum adansoniae (Botryosphaeriaceae), representing a new generic record for India, is described and illustrated. The species, isolated as an endophyte from healthy leaf midrib and fruit of Jatropha podagrica, is characterized by large conidiomata and hyaline ellipsoid conidia with round apices. Its teleomorph is unknown. Comparison of the internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2 loci and 5.8S rDNA sequences showed 100% sequence similarity with that of CBS 122055, the ex-type strain of P. adansoniae. Pseudofusicoccum adansoniae isolated as an endophyte from Jatropha podagrica: new record for India - ResearchGate. Available from: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/256090091_Pseudofusicoccum_adansoniae_isolated_as_an_endophyte_from_Jatropha_podagrica_new_record_for_India [accessed Apr 24, 2015].

Jatropha podagrica Hook. is cultivated as an ornamental plant and is also used in traditional medicine. The species has various pharmacological properties, but it has not yet been investigated for any potential allelopathic activity and allelopathic substances. In this study, an allelopathic active substance was isolated from an aqueous methanol extract of J. podagrica leaves through chromatography and reverse-phase HPLC. The substance was characterized as 6,7-dimethoxychromone by spectral analysis. 6,7-Dimethoxychromone significantly inhibited the shoots and roots of cress at concentrations greater than 0.3 mM. The concentrations required of 6,7-dimethoxychromone for 50% growth inhibition of cress shoots and roots were 0.95 and 0.83 mM, respectively. The inhibitory activity against the seedling growth of cress indicates that 6,7-dimethoxychromone may contribute to the allelopathic effects and may be responsible for the allelopathic activity in J. podagrica. This report is the first on the allelopathic activity of 6,7-dimethoxychromone as an allelopathic substance from J. podagrica.

Jatropha curcas (jatropha) is a potential biodiesel crop. A major limitation in production is that jatropha remains wild with low genetic variation. Related species/genera in the Euphorbiaceae can potentially be used for its genetic improvement. In this study, we employed inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) to assess genetic variation among 30 accessions of jatropha, two accessions of bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypifolia), two accessions of spicy jatropha (Jatropha integerrima), two accessions of bottleplant shrub (Jatropha podagrica), and three accessions of castor bean hybrids. Genetic relationships were evaluated using 27 of 86 ISSR markers, yielding 307 polymorphic bands with polymorphism contents ranging from 0.76 to 0.95 for IMPN 1 and UBC 807 markers, respectively. Dice’s genetic similarity coefficient ranged from 0.39 to 0.99, which clearly separated the plant samples into seven groups at the coefficient of 0.48. The first group comprised J. curcas from Mexico, the second group comprised J. curcas from China and Vietnam, the third group comprised J. curcas from Thailand, the fourth group was J. integerrima, the fifth group was J. gossypifolia, the sixth group was J. podagrica, and the last and most distinct group was Ricinus communis. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that 63% of the variability was attributable to variation among groups, while 37% was due to variation within groups. Based on Nei’s genetic distance, the population from G2 (J. curcas from China) and G4 (J. curcas from Vietnam) had the least ISSR variability (0.0668), whereas G8 (R. communis) and Jatropha spp. displayed the highest distance (0.6005–0.7211).

Current chemotherapeutic options for African trypanosomiasis in humans and livestock are very limited. In the present study, a total of 71 medicinal plant specimens from 60 plant species collected in Myanmar were screened for antitrypanosomal activity against trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma evansi and cytotoxicity against MRC-5 cells in vitro. The methanol extract of dried rootbark of Vitis repens showed the highest antitrypanosomal activity with IC(50) value of 8.6 +/- 1.5 microg/ml and the highest selectivity index of 24.4. The extracts of Brucea javanica, Vitex arborea, Eucalyptus globulus and Jatropha podagrica had also remarkable activity with IC(50) values and selectivity indices in the range of 27.2-52.6 microg/ml and 11.4-15.1 respectively.

A new aliphatic acid named japodic acid (1) with a gem-dimethyl cyclopropane ring has been isolated from the roots of Jatropha podagrica. Its structure was established by 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectrometric data. Two other known compounds, erythrinasinate (2) and fraxidin (3) were also isolated from this plant for the first time. Japodic acid showed mild insect growth inhibition activity against Helicoverpa zea (37% growth reduction at 100 ppm). Fraxidin and erythrinasinate exhibited antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis while japodic acid was inactive in the antibacterial assays conducted

One new lathyrane diterpenoid, Jatropodagrene (1) along with three known compounds have been isolated from the root bark of Jatropha podagrica. The structure of the new compound was established from its 1D and 2D NMR spectra and in comparison with data reported in previous literatures. Compound 1 was highly cytotoxic (98.86% inhibition) to the HCV virus, while compounds 2 (EC50, EC90, CC50 5.8, 33.1, 22.6 μg/mL, respectively) and 3 displayed significant anti HCV activity. This is the first report of the anti hepatitis C virus activity of lathyrane skeleton and J. podagrica.Keywords: Jatropha podagrica; medicinal plant; hepatitis C virus; extract; pure compounds

In a number of species of the genus Jatropha, used in folk medicine in tropical areas, the active principle is the macrocyclic diterpenoid jatrophone, which co-occurs with the inactive diterpenoids jatropholone A and B. Callus and suspension cultures of Jatropha cathartica, J. cinerea, J. curcas, J. dioica, J. elliptica, J. multifida, J. podagrica and J. mollissima were established, but most of the cell lines tested accumulated no, or only small quantities of jatrophone. The maximum jatrophone accumulation (3 mu g . g(-1) dry weight) was obtained with callus and suspension cultures derived from J. curcas and J. elliptica. Root-organ cultures of J. elliptica formed following incubation of suspension cells in the presence of 3-indoleburyric acid (5 mg . L(-1)). The maximum accumulation of jatrophone and the jatropholones in newly initiated roots grown in vitro was 329 and 458 mu g . g(-1) dry weight, respectively. The effects on diterpenoid accumulation root-organs of alteration of environmental parameters, and of the addition of chitosan, Benomyl(R) and Al3+ to the growth medium were investigated. The yield of jatrophone was significantly increased in the presence of 0.07-0.7 mmol/L Al3+, and the product profile was altered concomitantly.

Ethnopharmacological relevance We studied traditional knowledge of medicinal plants use of the Yuan in northern Thailand, documenting and analysing traditional medical practices and its trend in the younger generations. Aim of the study To providing useful information for appropriate and sustainable management under the urbanization and other developments and use of natural resources in their communities. In addition, traditional medicinal plant used, and knowledge that leads to discovery of new medicines can be promoted. Materials and methods Traditional medicinal plant knowledge of the Yuan in Lamphun province was studied from October 2009 through September 2011 in order to determine the important medicinal plant species and dominant use-categories in 5 villages. In each village, questionnaire interviews about medicinal plants uses were applied to 30 informants (5 informants per each of six stratified age groups). The relative importance of plant species was captured by calculation of use value (UV). Likewise, the dominant use-categories were determined by calculation of the informant agreement ratio (IAR). Correlations between informants’ age and number of medicinal plants known by them were determined with the coefficient of determination ( R 2 ). Results A total of 93 medicinal plant species in 82 genera and 49 families were recorded in the five villages. The most important species of medicinal plants were Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., Andrographis paniculata Ness, Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King and H.Rob., Jatropha podagrica Hook., and Thunbergia laurifolia Lindl. which had UVs of 1.02, 1.01, 0.75, 0.71, and 0.65, respectively. Likewise, the most dominant use-categories were injuries, which accounted for 0.91 of the IAR. The age of informants and medicinal plants reported by each of them were positively correlated ( R 2 =0.96, p Conclusions Most of the Yuan's traditional medicinal plant knowledge is used for treating basic ailments. However we should be concerned that there is an imminent danger that it will be lost in the near future because their lifestyle was changing.

The present study is aimed to evaluate antiproliferative, antioxidant activity and in vitro protective effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Jatropha podagrica. Total phenolics and flavonoids content was higher in seeds than leaves extract. The anti-proliferative effect on two tumoral cell lines A549 and PC12 was assessed by MTT assay. The cytotoxicity of the studied extract was also evaluated on young cerebellar granule cells. The investigation of the action mode of J. podagrica extract in protection of DNA damages, protein carbonylation and lipid peroxidation caused by hydroxyl radicals generated in Fenton's reaction exhibits an effective protection at low concentrations. In the presence of 100 μM of copper sulfate, Jatropha hydro-alcoholic extract showed no significant enhancing in the hydroxyl radicals generation and DNA fragmentation in vitro. These results suggest that extract of J. podagrica still acts as antioxidant even in the presence of free metal ions, but with less efficiency. The J. podagrica extract which showed significant antitumor activity against the A549 and PC12 cells deserves further research into the chemoprevention and treatment of cancer.

Hexane, chloroform and methanol extracts of the rootwood and rootbarks of Jatropha podagrica were studied for their antimicrobial activity against 18 organisms. All the extracts exhibited some broad spectrum antibacterial activity, at a concentration of 20 mg/mL. The hexane extracts were generally more active than the chloroform and methanol extracts. The hexane extract of the yellow rootbark was the most active of all the extracts and its activity was comparable to that of gentamycin but better with regard to the control of S. aureus and B. cereus. Three of the extracts, hexane extract of the yellow rootbark and hexane and methanol extracts of the rootwood showed moderate antifungal activity against the yeast fungus, Candida albicans.

Japodagrin (1) and japodagrone (2), two macrocylic diterpenoids possessing lathyrane and jatrophane skeletons, respectively, have been isolated from the root of Jatropha podagrica Hook. Four other diterpenoids (3-6) were also isolated from this plant. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of NMR and HRMS analysis, and by spectral comparisons. The compounds displayed antibacterial activity against some gram-positive bacteria.

Japodagrin (1) and japodagrone (2), two macrocylic diterpenoids possessing lathyrane and jatrophane skeletons, respectively, have been isolated from the root of Jatropha podagrica Hook. Four other diterpenoids (3-6) were also isolated from this plant. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of NMR and HRMS analysis, and by spectral comparisons. The compounds displayed antibacterial activity against some gram-positive bacteria.

Background: A great revival of scientific interests in drug discovery has been witnessed in recent years from medicinal plants for health maintenance. The aim of this work was to investigate three Nigerian medicinal plants collected in Nigeria for their in vitro antiplasmodial and antimicrobial activities. Materials and Methods: Extracts obtained from parts of Persea americana, Jatropha podagrica and Picralima nitida and their fractions were evaluated for in vitro antiprotozoal and antimicrobial activity. Result: The methanol extract of P. nitida demonstrated activity against chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum clones with IC50 values of 6.3 and 6.0 µg/mL, respectively. Methanol and chloroform extracts of P. americana seed showed antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans IC50 less than 8 and 8.211 µg/mL respectively. Finally, the petroleum ether extract of P. americana had activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with an IC50 value of 8.7 µg/mL. Conclusion: The study revealed the antibacterial and antiplasmodial activities of the plants extracts at the tested concentrations.

Two novel cyclic peptides were isolated from the latex of Jatropha podagrica, which we named podacycline A and B. Podacycline A is a cyclic nonapeptide with the sequence Gly1-Leu2-Leu3-Gly4-Ala5-Val6-Trp7-Ala8-Gly9+ ++-Gly1. The sequence of podacycline B, a cyclic heptapeptide, was determined to be Phe1-Ala2-Gly3-Thr4-Ile5-Phe6-Gly7-Phe1. The amino acid residues of both compounds were found to have the L-configuration.

Amphobotrys ricini is recorded for the first time causing natural blight on inflorescences of the ornamental euphorbiaceous hosts Acalypha hispida and Jatropha podagrica in Brazil.

Jatropha podagrica gummosis, caused by Botryodiplodia theobromae, was found for the first time in China at Pearl Square in Beihai City, Guangxi province in 2005. The fungus was isolated and the pathogenicity confirmed. This is the first record of the pathogen on J. podagrica in China.