Genus Jatropha Research Articles

Jatropha Green Petroleum Tree (Article Review)

This article provides a bibliography discussing the significance of Jatropha as a biofuel crop around the world. In the family Euphorbiaceae, the genus Jatropha contains about 170 species of shrubs and trees (some of which are deciduous, such as Jatropha Curcas L.). It’s a perennial that can withstand dry conditions, grows well in soil with low fertility, and yields a lot of oil per plot. Plants produce seeds for up to 50 years and grow rapidly. Due to its many advantages, jatropha has attracted attention as a potentially useful tropical plant in the expansion of renewable energy sources. It has more real and intangible environmental advantages than any other competition, and it deserves to be recognized as such. In comparison to other biodiesel feedstocks, jatropha produces more oil for its price, and it has excellent fuel characteristics. It’s a source of energy rather than food because it comes from an oilseed that isn’t edible. If you’re looking for a cleaner alternative to diesel, consider jatropha, which may be utilized in diesel engines without sacrificing performance. Additionally, jatropha has a major impact on the quality of life in rural areas. According to some estimates, the plant might give a weight-based oil production of up to 40% per seed. This article explores the environmental and economic significance of the Jatropha tree, as well as the characteristics of its seeds in relation to oil production and the possibility of using it as an environmentally friendly biofuel, as well as its methods of propagation, requirements for its growth, and what it needs from developmental processes in cultivation.

Seed Oil Content and Variability of Some Provenance of Jatropha Curcas Population in Ethiopia

Background Jatropha curcas (L.) is drought resistant large shrub or small tree. It belongs to the genus Jatropha and the family Euphorbiaceae. It is native to tropical America, but now found abundantly in many tropical and sub-tropical regions. Jatropha curcas (L.) is one of the important species that bear seed containing oil with a potential use as biodiesel. The objective of this research is to estimate the seed oil content and variability for some tree morphological traits of Jatropha curcas population in Ethiopia. Methodology Fourteen Jatropha curcas populations were collected at different parts of Ethiopia. Sixteen plants per plot were planted at Shewarobit site in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on survival rate, number of branches, seed yields and growth parameters were collected from those plants. Results The result showed that a survival rate of 85-100%, average root collar diameter was 11cm and plant height of 235 cm were recorded at the age of 39 months after planting. Different traits of Jatropha curcas indicated statistically no significant difference (p>0.05). However, slightly higher seed and oil yield (k.g/ha/year) 3016.0 & 111169.8, 2711.3 & 91235.25 were found from Chefa and R1-009 seed sources, respectively. Conclusions Even if, there was no significant difference observed among seed sources. Hence, Chefa and R1-009 collections have slightly greater yield both in seed and oil yields. So they should be chosen for future seed sources to produce crude oil due to their relative higher seed number and oil yield.

Morphological, phytochemical and molecular characterization of five common Jatropha species in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

The economic and medicinal important genus Jatropha contains many distinctly different species. To elucidate the genetic relationship of five common occurring Jatropha species namely J. multifida, J. podagrica, J.tanjorernsis, J. curcas, and J. gossypifolia, thirty-nine morphological, six phytochemical features and one arbitrary marker was used to screen and explore their similarity. Morphological data was obtained from the measurement of vegetative and reproductive parts while the presence of five phytochemicals was determined using differentphytochemical tests. The DNA of all five Jatropha species were amplified and sequenced using Ribolose 1, 5- biphosphate carboxylase molecular marker. The DNA sequences were then aligned using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool for nucleotide 2.8.0 version of the National Center for Biotechnology Information database and phylogenetic trees were constructed using Paleontological Statistical software and Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis version 7.0.26 software. From the results of the classical and phylogenetic cluster analysis, the five Jatropha species was separated into two major clusters. The highly distinctive J. gossypifolia was the only species that clustered separately from the other Jatropha species. Although, J. tanjorensis has been reported to be a hybrid from J. curcas and J. gossypifolia, the species did not segregate and cluster with these species, but segregated with J. multifida, and J.podagrica, indicating that this species is more closely related to J. multifida, and J. podagrica than J. curcas and J.gossypifolia. The result therefore provide information that would be useful in the plant improvement programs for the genus Jatropha.

Prospecção tecnológica dos efeitos biológicos de plantas do gênero Jatropha

O gênero Jatropha, está inserido na família Euphorbiaceae. Esta família compreende 290 gêneros e aproximadamente 7500 espécies, distribuídas em todo o mundo, principalmente nas regiões tropicais. Esse estudo objetivou realizar a prospecção de patentes das principais aplicações biológicas do gênero Jatropha. Para a realização da pesquisa, utilizaram-se as bases Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Industrial do Brasil (INPI), European Patent Office (Espacenet), United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) e os descritores A base da WIPO obteve maior número de patentes (n = 724), predominando a classificação C12N (n = 153). O número de patentes depositadas sobre o gênero de plantas Jatropha pode ser considerado alto quando pesquisado de forma geral (n = 1434), porém, ao se especificar apenas os efeitos farmacológicos do gênero, são encontrados poucos depósitos de patentes (n = 38), o que demonstra a falta de incentivo no registro de patentes direcionadas para essa tecnologia na área farmacológica, apesar de ser um campo de interesse comercial, assim como, um direcionamento das pesquisas científicas no atendimento às reais necessidades da sociedade e do setor econômico.

Nucleotide sequencing of specific genes in nuclear and plastid genomes of good performance hybrids derived from interspecific hybridization in the genus Jatropha

Nucleotide sequencing of specific genes in nuclear and plastid genomes of good performance hybrids derived from interspecific hybridization in the genus Jatropha

Nucleotide sequencing of specific genes in nuclear and plastid genomes of good performance hybrids derived from interspecific hybridization in the genus Jatropha

Nucleotide sequencing of specific genes in nuclear and plastid genomes of good performance hybrids derived from interspecific hybridization in the genus Jatropha

Evaluation of the wound healing effects of Jatropha curcas latex on intact and wounded skin in wistar rats

BACKGROUND: Wounds have posed a major challenge to human. It has been a major cause of morbidity and mortality. One of the herbs commonly used among the Edo people to treat wound is Jatropha curcas. It is used for the treatment of superficial wound, to secure hemostasis on wounded skin, as purgative, soap, and for making hedge around farm. It is a species of flowering plant in the genus Jatropha in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae. AIM: This study aimed at evaluating the effects of J. curcas sap on normal and wounded skin of rats. The objectives were to investigate the wound-healing effects of J. curcas in Wistar rats as well as its effects on intact skin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved the use of 24 Wistar rats which were placed in four Groups of six Wistar rats each (labeled A, B, C, and D). Group A had 3-cm long incision inflicted on the back of the Wistar rats and was treated with the latex of J. curcas. This was compared with Group B that had the same size of wound and was treated with 0.9% normal saline. Group C had the crude sap of J. curcas applied on intact skin. Group D had no wound and nothing applied to the skin. The animals were sacrificed after 28 days, and the histology of the normal and wounded skin was examined. RESULTS: The J. curcas formed blood clots within 5 s of application unlike that treated with normal saline. The histological examination showed that the healing with J. curcas was greater with the re-establishment of the skin layer. The unwounded skin treated with J. curcas latex showed exfoliation of the stratum corneum. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that the latex of Jatropha curcas has haemostatic properties. There was greater wound healing effects when compared to normal saline.

Phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activity of Jatropha multifida L. collected in Pindamonhangaba, Sao Paulo State, Brazil

A number of herbs belonging to the genus Jatropha of Euphorbiaceae family are noted for their medicinal benefits It has already been observed the antibacterial anti inflammatory antifungal antioxidant activity anti tumor and others They are also employed as ornamental plants and energy crops Qualitative and quantitative methods were used for the evaluation of total phenols and flavonoids in the latex and leaves extract of Jatropha multifida Linn and their antioxidant activity This study was able to confirm the presence of phenols and flavonoids in the samples analyzed and its antioxidant activity corroborating the use of latex of the plant in the pharmaceutical industry

Diversity, Seasonal Variation and Antibacterial Activity of Endophytic Fungi Associated With the Genus Jatropha in Mauritius

Background: Endophytic fungi are important components of the forest community and are significantly diverse from one plant to another as well as from one ecosystem to another. Objective: The current study aimed to characterise, at the molecular level, the diversity and seasonal variation of endophytic fungi from Jatropha plants found in Mauritius and to compare the phytochemicals and the antimicrobial potential of the fungal isolates with the leaves extracts. Materials and methods: Endophytic and saprophytic fungi were isolated from the leaves of Jatropha plants during summer and winter. The isolated fungi were further classified through molecular characterisation. The isolates were grouped into 76 distinct operational taxonomic units based on the sequence of the internal transcribed spacer regions in the rRNA gene. The colonization frequency and the dominant fungi percentage of these endophytic fungi were calculated. The antimicrobial properties of the extracts from the endophytes were compared to that of the extracts obtained from the leaves of the Jatropha plants. Results: The overall colonisation rate for the two seasons was 67.42%. Maximum colonisation (27%) was observed in both J. curcas and J. multifida. There was a diverse array of fungi which included 21 common genera. Colonisation frequency of the other genera recovered during this study varied according to the plant from which the isolation was carried out. J. multifida was richer in the genus Phoma, J. curcas were colonised mainly by Neofusicoccum as compared to J. integerrima and J. podagrica, which were colonised by the Corenespora. Climate was also a primary driver of endophytes and saprophytes community diversity and composition. Moreover, the endophytic fungi from the leaves of J. curcas gave highly significant antimicrobial activities effects (p<0.01) against both the tested Gram (+ve) and Gram (-ve) clinical pathogens. Among the four active isolates, Engyodontium was the genus that showed highest antimicrobial activity. Overall, the endophytic fungi from the Jatropha species were more effective than the crude ethyl acetate extract of the leaves. Conclusion: The antimicrobial activity of these endophytic microorganisms could be further exploited and find application in the pharmaceutical industry.

Molecular markers for genetic diversity studies in Jatropha (&lt;i&gt;Jatropha curcas&lt;/i&gt; L.)

The molecular markers namely random amplified polymorphic DNA, amplified fragment length polymorphism, sequence-characterized amplified region, inter simple sequence repeats, simple sequence repeats and single-nucleotide polymorphism, etc. have been successfully used for genetic diversity studies in J. curcas . The assessment of genetic variations among Jatropha germplasms using molecular markers show the presence of high genetic diversity for the Central and South American regions and insignificant genetic variation from Asia and Africa. The use of molecular markers for the assessment of phylogenetic relationships among different Jatropha species has been restricted only to the well adapted and acclimatized species in India. The significant genetic variability in the genus Jatropha for vegetative and floral traits for seed oil content, productivity, toxicity (phorbol esters, curcin), fatty acid profiles, etc. has been studied in the past decade using molecular markers. Genetic enhancement of Jatropha through conventional breeding and interspecific gene transfer can be attempted by exploiting the diverse genetic resource form J. curcas and their wild species. This review focuses on the importance and use of molecular markers towards studying diversity analysis in J. curcas growing at different areas.

Karyotype and genome size comparative analyses among six species of the oilseed-bearing genus Jatropha (Euphorbiaceae).

Jatropha is an important genus of Euphorbiaceae, with species largely used for various purposes, including the manufacturing of soaps and pharmaceutical products and applications in the bioenergetic industry. Although there have been several studies focusing J. curcas in various aspects, the karyotype features of Jatropha species are poorly known. Therefore, we analyzed six Jatropha species through fluorochrome staining (CMA/DAPI), fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with 5S and 45S rDNA probes and genome size estimation by flow cytometry. Our results revealed several chromosome markers by both CMA/DAPI and FISH for the analyzed species. Five Jatropha species (J. curcas, J. gossypiifolia, J. integerrima, J. multifida and J. podagrica) showed four CMA-positive (CMA+) bands associated with the 5S and 45S rDNA sites (one and two pairs, respectively). However, J. mollissima displayed six CMA+/DAPI- bands co-localized with both 5S and 45S rDNA, which showed a FISH superposition. A gradual variation in the genome sizes was observed (2C = 0.64 to 0.86 pg), although an association between evidenced heterochromatin and genome sizes was not found among species. Except for the unique banding pattern of J. mollissima and the pericentromeric heterochromatin of J. curcas and J. podagrica, our data evidenced relatively conserved karyotypes.

Peptides from the Genus Jatropha: Beyond Isolation

Peptides from the Genus Jatropha: Beyond Isolation

Antioxidant response to cold stress in two oil plants of the genus Jatropha

Jatropha curcas and J. macrocarpa, suitable for production of biodiesel oil from their seeds, are able to live in arid and semi-arid regions, where most crops cannot survive. J. curcas is characterized by higher oil quality and seed yield, but it is not a good candidate for oil production in arid areas with freezing temperatures, due to its sensitivity to chilling in comparison to J. macrocarpa. In this work, for the first time, the effects of cold stress and different mechanisms activated in these conditions have been studied in the two species. Seedlings were treated with low non-freezing temperatures with or without a previous acclimation period. Water status, pigment content, oxidative stress and antioxidant response were studied in acclimated and non-acclimated plants. The key features that differentiate J. macrocarpa from J. curcas were the ability to accumulate, at low temperatures, high concentrations of pigments and glutathione and significantly higher activities of ascorbate peroxidase. These data could explain the greater resistance to low temperatures of J. macrocarpa. A period of acclimation was not able to improve cold tolerance of J. curcas and this confirms its limited adaptability to arid areas with freezing temperatures.

Absolute configuration of diterpenoids from Jatropha dioica by vibrational circular dichroism

The absolute configuration of jatropholone A 1 and B 2, including the possibility to observe the vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) capacity to differentiate between two epimeric compounds in the presence of an inherently dissymmetric chromophore, which normally dominates VCD and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra, followed after comparison of their experimental and DFT calculated VCD spectra, allowed us to conclude that although non-local (M/P) chirality generated by atropisomerism dominates over local chirality generated by an (R/S) change, the stereogenic center can confidently be assigned by VCD after DFT calculations. In addition, the absolute configurations of jatrophatrione 3 and citlalitrione 4, a compound proposed as a taxonomic marker for the genus Jatropha, were assigned by contrasting their respective calculated and experimental IR and VCD spectra. The evaluation of Flack and Hooft parameters obtained from the single-crystal X-ray diffraction data of jatropholone B acetate 6, and of 4 independently confirmed the absolute configurations of these molecules.

Jatropha sotoi-nunyezii y Jatropha curcas, especies de Tamaulipas: una comparación desde la perspectiva de los biocombustibles

Las especies del género Jatropha se consideran una alternativa viable para la producción comercial de biodiésel, particularmente J. curcas. Recientemente se describió la especie J. sotoi- nunyezii, con distribución en el estado de Tamaulipas, pero se desconoce si es factible aprovecharla industrialmente. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue obtener y caracterizar la calidad y rendimiento del biodiesel obtenido a partir de J. sotoi-nunyezii, comparándolo con las variedades comerciales de J. curcas tóxica y no tóxica. El aceite de semillas de J. curcas tóxica, J. curcas no tóxica y J. sotoi-nunyezii fue transesterificado para producir biodiésel, y se determinó su composición química (ésteres metílicos de ácidos grasos) por CG-EM. Las semillas de J. soto-nunyezii tuvieron mayor contenido de aceite con respecto a las de J. curcas tóxica y no tóxica (43.5 %, 32.5 % y 33.3 % respectivamente). La eficiencia de conversión a biodiésel fue mayor en J. sotoi-nunyezii con un 87.2 %. La composición química del biodiésel de J. sotoi-nunyezii con respecto al de J. curcas (tóxica y no tóxica) mostró mayor concentración de ésteres metílico insaturados, particularmente linoleato de metilo. Esta característica influyó en los valores calculados de los parámetros de calidad, índice de yodo y número de cetano que comparado con normas de calidad como la EN 14214, indican que el biodiésel de J. sotoi-nunyezii es más susceptible a la oxidación con respecto al biodiésel de J. curcas (tóxica y no tóxica). Por otro lado, el valor calculado de la entalpía de combustión del biodiésel de J. sotoi-nunyezii y J. curcas (tóxica y no tóxica) es similar al del diésel, por lo que ambos valores indican que son biocombustibles con alto contenido energético. Esta comparación permitió considerar a J. sotoi-nunyezii como posible especie promisoria para la producción de biocombustibles de segunda generación.

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of key Jatropha species inferred from nrDNA ITS and chloroplast (trnL-F and rbcL) sequences

The genus Jatropha (Euphorbiaceae) contains species that are of significant economic and ornamental value. However, Jatropha breeding material is rather limited due to incomplete information regarding phylogenetic relationships among germplasm resources. Phylogenetic analyses were performed based on the internal transcribed spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA ITS), two chloroplast regions (trnL-F and rbcL), and the combined (ITS+trnL-F+rbcL) dataset among twenty-five specimens representing six key Jatropha species. Phylogenetic relationships of Jatropha were well resolved between subgenus Curcas and subgenus Jatropha, and demonstrated the intermediate position of section Polymorphae among sections of both subgenera. Jatropha curcas and J. integerrima demonstrated a close phylogenetic relationship. The molecular data agreed with the morphological classification that recognized J. multifida and J. podagrica in sec. Peltatae. The distinct intraspecific divergence that occurred in J. curcas could be attributed to restricted gene flow caused by geographical isolation and different ecological conditions. Phylograms produced with trnL-F and rbcL sequence data suggested slow rates of sequence divergence among Jatropha spp., while the ITS gene tree had good resolution suggesting high genetic variation of ITS among Jatropha species.

Chemical Composition, Bio-Diesel Potential and Uses of &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Jatropha curcas&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; L. (Euphorbiaceae)

This review paper focuses some basic aspect of the taxonomic, biology, cultivation, chemical composition, bio-diesel potential, medicinal values and uses of Jatropha curcas Linn. The genus Jatropha is distributed throughout the tropics and sub-tropics growning in marginal lands and is a potential biodiesel crop worldwide. Due to its adaptability to marginal soils and environments the cultivation of Jatropha curcas is frequently mentioned as the best option for producing biodiesel. The seed oil can be used as a feed stock for biodiesel. Alternatively Jatropha oil is used in soap, glue or dye industry. The seed cake is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus and can be used as manure. Ash from the roots and branches of Jatropha curcas L. is used as cooking salt, and as lye in dyeing. The dark blue dye extracted from the bark of Jatropha is a useful dye. The plant parts and its oil along with its latex used for different reasons such as pesticides, anti-inflammatory activities, wound healing, lighting (lamp), bio-gas production, fertilizer and other purposes. The objective of this review paper focuses some basic aspect of the taxonomic, biology, cultivation, chemical composition, bio-diesel potential, medicinal values and uses of Jatropha curcas Linn.

Genetic Diversity Analysis of Jatropha Species from Costa Rica Using AFLP Markers

The genetic diversity from species of the genus Jatropha collected from Costa Rica was analyzed by AFLP (amplified fragments length polymorphism). The study consisted of 114 accessions from 15 populations of 4 different species: J. curcas, J. costaricensis, J. gossypifolia and J. stevensii. These were collected from different locations in Costa Rica. Three different primers were used, resulting in 428 loci, and they were classified in three categories: unique and double bands (UBD), rare bands (RB) and shared bands (SB). The UBD were excluded for a total of 339 polymorphic loci used for the UPGMA dendrogram and principal component analysis (PCA). The species that obtained the highest average of polymorphic loci was J. curcas, which obtained the highest percentage of polymorphic loci (80.24%), followed by J. gossypifolia (79.35%), J. costaricensis (78.76%), and finally J. stevensii (40.71%). The average for the polymorphic loci was of 69.76%. Thus, the phylogeny of the Jatropha species in Costa Rica was elucidated, showing J. curcas more related to J. stevensii and this one with J. costaricensis, and J. gossypifolia as the most distant member of the genus. For the best of our knowledge this is the first report of a genetic analysis of J. costaricensis and J. stevensii. The obtained molecular evidence showed high levels of polymorphisms in the present study compared with reports from Africa, India, and China. The molecular diversity estimated in our analysis, together with agronomical or morphological data, can be very useful for plant breeding programs, given the importance of Jatropha species in oil production. Interestingly, Central American Jatropha material can be used to increase the genetic base of J. curcas populations localized in Asia and Africa, where reduced genetic diversity has been reported.

Phylogeography and molecular diversity analysis of Jatropha curcas L. and the dispersal route revealed by RAPD, AFLP and nrDNA-ITS analysis

Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) has acquired a great importance as a renewable source of energy with a number of environmental benefits. Very few attempts were made to understand the extent of genetic diversity and its distribution. This study was aimed to study the diversity and deduce the phylogeography of Jatropha curcas L. which is said to be the most primitive species of the genus Jatropha. Here we studied the intraspecific genetic diversity of the species distributed in different parts of the globe. The study also focused to understand the molecular diversity at reported probable center of origin (Mexico), and to reveal the dispersal route to other regions based on random amplified polymorphic DNA, amplified fragment length polymorphism and nrDNA-ITS sequences data. The overall genetic diversity of J. curcas found in the present study was narrow. The highest genetic diversity was observed in the germplasm collected from Mexico and supports the earlier hypothesis based on morphological data and natural distribution, it is the center for origin of the species. Least genetic diversity found in the Indian germplasm and clustering results revealed that the species was introduced simultaneously by two distinct germplasm and subsequently distributed in different parts of India. The present molecular data further revealed that J. curcas might have spread from the center of the origin to Cape Verde, than to Spain, Portuguese to other neighboring countries and simultaneously to Africa. The molecular evidence supports the Burkill et al. (A dictionary of the economic products of the Malay Peninsula, Governments of Malaysia and Singapore by the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1966) view of Portuguese might have introduced the species to India. The clustering pattern suggests that the distribution was interfered by human activity.

Biotechnological and Biochemical Study for Improvement of Non-Toxic Jatropha (Jatropha curcasL.)

Jatropha curcas L. (physic nut) is a bush or small tree and belongs to the euphorbia family. The genus Jatropha contains approximately 170 known species. Increasing J. curcas production as a biofuel source will increase seed cake as a by-product which is rich in protein and essential amino acids except lysine. However, major constituents contained in the seed cake are toxic compound like Phorbol which contain antinutritional factors. The toxic genotype is common but the nontoxic genotypes exist only in Mexico. Because of Phorbol ester present in seeds and vegetative parts, its use as edible feedstock become narrow. Present investigation is to study and validate the toxic and nontoxic segregants of Jatropha. The attempt is also being made to identify derivatives with low toxin based on variability for Phorbol ester content in segregating population through HPLC and also to validate the protocol already utilized to classify toxic and non -toxic plants based on molecular analysis using ISSR and RAPD primers. The present findings reveal matching values for Phorbol content and the segregant with no toxin to optimal content extend opportunities of molecular breeding and selection to develop varieties with low Phorbol content.