Abstract
Jatropha curcas is a multipurpose tree, which has potential as an alternative source for biodiesel. All of its parts can also be used for human food, animal feed, fertilizer, fuel and traditional medicine. J. curcas seed cake is a low-value by-product obtained from biodiesel production. The seed cake, however, has a high amount of protein, with the presence of a main toxic compound: phorbol esters as well as anti-nutritional factors: trypsin inhibitors, phytic acid, lectin and saponin. The objective of this work was to detoxify J. curcas seed cake and study the toxin, anti-nutritional factors and also functional properties of the protein isolated from the detoxified seed cake. The yield of protein isolate was approximately 70.9%. The protein isolate was obtained without a detectable level of phorbol esters. The solubility of the protein isolate was maximal at pH 12.0 and minimal at pH 4.0. The water and oil binding capacities of the protein isolate were 1.76 g water/g protein and 1.07 mL oil/g protein, respectively. The foam capacity and stability, including emulsion activity and stability of protein isolate, had higher values in a range of basic pHs, while foam and emulsion stabilities decreased with increasing time. The results suggest that the detoxified J. curcas seed cake has potential to be exploited as a novel source of functional protein for food applications.
Highlights
IntroductionIt is thought to be native to Central and South America and widely distributed in Central America, Africa and Asia
Jatropha curcas is a multipurpose plant which belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family
The seed cake left after extraction of oil provides a high amount of protein [2] and all concentrations of essential amino acids except lysine are higher than those of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reference pattern suggested for pre-school children [3]
Summary
It is thought to be native to Central and South America and widely distributed in Central America, Africa and Asia It has been widely planted in Thailand and promoted as a biodiesel plant. Increasing J. curcas production as a biofuel source will increase the quantity of its seed cake, which is a by-product. The seed cake left after extraction of oil provides a high amount of protein [2] and all concentrations of essential amino acids except lysine are higher than those of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reference pattern suggested for pre-school children [3]. Major constituents contained in the seed cake are toxic compound and anti-nutritional factors. The main toxic component of the seed cake is phorbol esters and the anti-nutritional factors found in the seed cake are trypsin inhibitor, phytic acid, lectin and saponin
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