Chemical and Physical Characterizaton of Jatropha curcas L. Seed from the Northern Sierra of Puebla, México

Abstract

Jatropha curcas is a valuable plant for its variety of uses. Ten genotypes were collected in the Northern Sierra of Puebla, Mexico, to perform a physical and chemical characterization of the seed. The results indicate that the genotypes San Antonio and La Lagunilla presented the best whole seed size, the highest weights of the kernel and the shell, as the greater length and width of the kernel. Also, stand out in the percentage of kernel and cascara for which they are feasible for its propagation in field. The genotypes Zacapoxtantzingo and Amatlan presented the best characteristics of the proximal analysis so that their seeds can be used for human consumption, while the genotypes Santiago and La Lagunilla present the highest protein content, so it can be considered as food enriching. With respect to the chemical analysis, the 10 genotypes presented six fatty acids: linoleic, oleic, stearic, palmitoleic, palmitic and myristic, of which the oleic and linoleic unsaturated acids are the majority, obtained mainly with the Tuzamapan genotype, while the study of phorbol esters of five of these genotypes indicated that these genotypes showed phorbol esters, but non-toxic genotypes were considered when they presented smaller amounts to the 0.1 mg g -1 .