Heptane Extract Research Articles

Impact of Dactyloctenium aegyptium Weed Extracts on Soil Borne Fungal Phytopathogens and Legume Crop-Vigna

Background: As it is well known that intensive and indiscriminate use of chemicals in agriculture has caused very serious problems to the environment and as well as the human beings as it has poisoned our food also contaminated for soil and water. Aim to make light of the adverse effect of these chemical pesticides the extract of Dactyloctenium aegyptium was used against the soil borne plant pathogens i.e., Fusarium oxysporium, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotium rolfsi. Methods: In this field-laboratory investigation during 2018-19, different part of Dactyloctenium aegyptium extracts show the antifungal activity against soil born fungal phyto-pathogen and also show the effect on vigna (Moong) at different parameters. The antifungal activity was resolute by well diffusion method. It is very effortless and usual method to resolve the inhibition zone. Result: Our investigation in which the heptane extract of the Dactyloctenium weed both part s was found to be most effective against the fungal plant pathogens i.e. 0.00 over the control which was 6.3 and 5.8 in Fusarium oxysporium and Rhizoctonia solani respectively and extract in ethyl acetate and butyl alcohol was show lowest effectiveness against Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotium rolfsi i.e 5.3 and 6.4. In case of green gram germination, Dactyloctenium aegyptium in different solvent at 25% concentration, butylalcohol was the highest in increasing the germination percentage (100) show effectiveness. The leaves, root and stem length show highest effectiveness respectively methanol, heptane and water. The overall effectiveness of the different extract against the fungal plant pathogens were found significantly effective.

The antispasmodic activity of ethanol extract of the stem bark of Piliostigma reticulatum Horscht D.C (Ceasalpiniaceae), and its dichloromethane fraction isolated

Piliostigma reticulatum (Caesalpiniaceae) has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders like diarrhea. The aim of the present study was to examine the relaxant activity of an extract of P. reticulatum stem bark and five of its fractions on isolated rabbit duodenum. Segments of duodenum of rabbits were suspended in an organ bath. The ethanol extract had been fractioned to obtain some fractions heptane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and aqueous extract. The ethanol extract and the dichloromethane fraction were tested on the contraction of rabbit duodenum at the increasing concentrations. Increasing concentrations of P. reticulatum ethanol extract and its fraction induced a relaxant effect on spontaneous rabbit duodenum. The ethanol extract reduced duodenum contraction totally at 1.32 mg/mL at IC50 = 0.62 mg/mL. At the test concentration of 0.52mg/mL in organ bath, the dichloromethane fraction showed a relaxation of 100% (IC50 = 0.24 mg/mL). Piliostigma reticulatum stem bark possesses antispasmodic properties that can at least explain and support its traditional use against diarrhea.

Endogenous Intoxication and Saliva Lipid Peroxidation in Patients with Lung Cancer.

This research was aimed at a search for regularities in changes to parameters of endogenous intoxication and saliva lipid peroxidation in patients with lung cancer, non-malignant lung diseases, and apparently healthy people. All patients went through saliva sampling at an amount of 1 mL. A concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured according to a reaction with thiobarbituric acid, and a level of middle molecules (MM) was measured with UV spectroscopy at 254 and 280 nm, while the content of lipid peroxidation products was measured according to a degree of heptane extract light absorption at wavelengths of 220, 232, 278, and 400 nm. It has been revealed that in the context of lung cancer, the level of diene conjugates decreases, increasing the level of triene conjugates, Schiff’s bases, and MM. As a tumor grows, there is a decrease in the level of lipid peroxidation primary products and an increase in endotoxemia phenomena. The process is more apparent when going from local to locally advanced disease states. The nature of the MDA change is nonlinearly associated with tumor progression. The findings might be used to optimize traditional aids of diagnostics, in disease state forecasting, in treatment monitoring, etc.

The Effect of Lamium album Extract on Cultivated Human Corneal Epithelial Cells (10.014 pRSV-T).

Purpose:To evaluate the effect of Lamium album extract on human corneal epithelial cells (10.014 pRSV-T cell line) cultured in vitro.Methods:Normal human corneal epithelial cells were incubated with ethanol, ethyl acetate and heptane extracts from Lamium album. Their effect on cells was evaluated by neutral red (NR) uptake and MTT assays for cytotoxicity, ELISA for immunomodulation, Griess method for nitric oxide levels, DPPH assay for free radicals scavenging activity. A blank control consisted only of culture medium.Results:In NR and MTT assays, Lamium album extracts did not affect cell viability (80% at 125 μg/ml concentration). Ethanol was the least toxic extract (cell viability over 88%) and expressed the most potent reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging action. It was 19.88 ± 0.87% higher than controls representing a reduction corresponding to 7.136 μg/ml of trolox. Heptane extract revealed no ROS scavenging activity. All extracts decreased NO production by cells. The most active extract was ethanol (8 μg/ml) which reduced NO level to 0.242 μM (75% decrease compared to control). Extracts influenced pro-inflammatory (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines levels reducing all of them in general. The strongest reduction in tested cytokines level was observed by the heptane extract. On the other hand, the ethanol extract induced mainly TNF-α level in a concentration dependent manner.Conclusion:Selected Lamium album extracts influence human corneal epithelial cells. Generally, while not toxic, they modulate pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines levels, and decrease NO release by cells; moreover, ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts reduce ROS levels.

Antimicrobial and antifungal activity of Cucumis melo l. (cucurbitaceae) and Pergularia daemia frosk. (asclpiadaceae) an ethnomedicinal plants.

In the present study the aqueous, heptane, petroleum ether and acetone extract of the whole plant of Cucumis melo L . (Cucurbitaceae), Pergularia daemia Frosk. (Asclepiadaceae) was screened for the antibacterial and antifungal activity. The crude extract was screened for activity against bacterial strains like E. coli, K. pneumoniae, S. paratyphi, S. aureus and a fungal strain C. albicans . Highest zone of inhibition was shown by whole plant and fruit extract of Cucumis melo L. with aqueous and acetone with C. albicans and E. coli 08 and 12 mm respectively. Very poor response was observed with acetone and aqueous extract in other bacterial and fungal stains . Highest zone of inhibition was shown by whole extract of Pergularia daemia with heptane with E. coli, and C . albicans , 16 and 21 mm respectively. Very poor response was observed with Petroleum ether extract in other bacterial and fungal stains .

Assessment of eyebright (euphrasia officinalis L.) extract activity in relation to human corneal cells using in vitro tests.

Euphrasia officinalis L. is an herb traditionally used in folk medicine, mainly in the treatment of eye disorders. The present study analyzed the activity of three extracts of E. officinalis L. (ethanol, ethyl acetate and heptane) on cultured human corneal epithelial cells (10.014 pRSV-T). In vitro study. Toxicity, free radical scavenging activity and the immunomodulatory effects of the extracts were tested using the thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) or Neutral Red, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ELISA tests, respectively. Moreover, nitric oxide levels and cytoskeleton architecture were analyzed after corneal cell incubation with the plant extracts. We show that the biological effect depended on both the concentration and the extraction solvent used. Heptane extracts, distinct from those in ethanol and ethyl acetate, were toxic to 10.014 pRSV-T cells at low concentrations (25 μg/mL) and did not demonstrate free radical scavenging effects. All tested extracts decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and also anti-inflammatory IL-10 expression by human corneal cells when the extracts were added to the cell culture medium for 24 h. In conclusion, we show that the promising effects of the application of E. officinalis L. preparations as a supplementary therapy for eye disorders are associated with the ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts, not the heptane extract.

Pyrostegia venusta heptane extract containing saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons induces apoptosis on B16F10-Nex2 melanoma cells and displays antitumor activity in vivo.

Background:Pyrostegia venusta (Ker. Gawl.) Miers (Bignoniacea) is a medicinal plant from the Brazilian Cerrado used to treat leucoderma and common diseases of the respiratory system.Objective:To investigate the antitumor activity of P.venusta extracts against melanoma.Materials and Methods:The cytotoxic activity and tumor induced cell death of heptane extract (HE) from P. venusta flowers was evaluated against murine melanoma B16F10-Nex2 cells in vitro and in a syngeneic model in vivo.Results:We found that HE induced apoptosis in melanoma cells by disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential, induction of reactive oxygen species and late apoptosis evidenced by plasma membrane blebbing, cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation, exposure of phosphatidylserine on the cell surface and activation of caspase-2,-3,-8,-9. HE was also protective against singeneyc subcutaneous melanoma HE compounds were also able to induce cell cycle arrest at G2/M phases on tumor cells. On fractionation of HE in silica gel we isolated a cytotoxic fraction that contained a mixture of saturated hydrocarbons identified by 1H NMR and GC-MS analyses. Predominant species were octacosane (C28H58-36%) and triacontane (C30H62-13%), which individually showed significant cytotoxic activity against murine melanoma B16F10-Nex2 cells in vitro and a very promising antitumor protection against subcutaneous melanoma in vivo.Conclusion:The results suggest that the components of the heptane extract, mainly octasane and triacontane, which showed antitumor properties in experimental melanoma upon regional administration, might also be therapeutic in human cancer, such as in the mostly epidermal and slowly invasive melanomas, such as acral lentiginous melanoma, as an adjuvant treatment to surgical excision.

Development of a rapid, simple assay of plasma total carotenoids

BackgroundPlasma total carotenoids can be used as an indicator of risk of chronic disease. Laboratory analysis of individual carotenoids by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is time consuming, expensive, and not amenable to use beyond a research laboratory. The aim of this research is to establish a rapid, simple, and inexpensive spectrophotometric assay of plasma total carotenoids that has a very strong correlation with HPLC carotenoid profile analysis.ResultsPlasma total carotenoids from 29 volunteers ranged in concentration from 1.2 to 7.4 μM, as analyzed by HPLC. A linear correlation was found between the absorbance at 448 nm of an alcohol / heptane extract of the plasma and plasma total carotenoids analyzed by HPLC, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.989. The average coefficient of variation for the spectrophotometric assay was 6.5% for the plasma samples. The limit of detection was about 0.3 μM and was linear up to about 34 μM without dilution. Correlations between the integrals of the absorption spectra in the range of carotenoid absorption and total plasma carotenoid concentration gave similar results to the absorbance correlation. Spectrophotometric assay results also agreed with the calculated expected absorbance based on published extinction coefficients for the individual carotenoids, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.988.ConclusionThe spectrophotometric assay of total carotenoids strongly correlated with HPLC analysis of carotenoids of the same plasma samples and expected absorbance values based on extinction coefficients. This rapid, simple, inexpensive assay, when coupled with the carotenoid health index, may be useful for nutrition intervention studies, population cohort studies, and public health interventions.

Aloe vera extract activity on human corneal cells

Context: Ocular diseases are currently an important problem in modern societies. Patients suffer from various ophthalmologic ailments namely, conjunctivitis, dry eye, dacryocystitis or degenerative diseases. Therefore, there is a need to introduce new treatment methods, including medicinal plants usage. Aloe vera [Aloe barbadensis Miller (Liliaceae)] possesses wound-healing properties and shows immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory or antioxidant activities.Materials and methods: NR uptake, MTT, DPPH• reduction, Griess reaction, ELISA and rhodamine-phalloidin staining were used to test toxicity, antiproliferative activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) reduction, nitric oxide (NO) and cytokine level, and distribution of F-actin in cells, respectively.Aim: The present study analyzes the effect of Aloe vera extracts obtained with different solvents on in vitro culture of human 10.014 pRSV-T corneal cells.Results: We found no toxicity of ethanol, ethyl acetate and heptane extracts of Aloe vera on human corneal cells. No ROS reducing activity by heptane extract and trace action by ethanol (only at high concentration 125 µg/ml) extract of Aloe vera was observed. Only ethyl acetate extract expressed distinct free radical scavenging effect. Plant extracts decreased NO production by human corneal cells as compared to untreated controls. The cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10) production decreased after the addition of Aloe vera extracts to the culture media.Discussion and conclusions: Aloe vera contains multiple pharmacologically active substances which are capable of modulating cellular phenotypes and functions. Aloe vera ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts may be used in eye drops to treat inflammations and other ailments of external parts of the eye such as the cornea.

Determination of the total lipid and the long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, EPA and DHA, in deep-sea fish and shark species from the North-East Atlantic

The lipid and long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC ω-3 PUFA) contents of spot samples of 22 under-utilised species of deep-sea fish were determined. The total lipid content was determined by a rapid extraction technique which used anhydrous sodium sulphate and ethanol to immobilise the moisture in the fish tissue followed by extraction of lipid with hep-tane at 80-85°C. The heptane extract was analysed in a liquid cell between NaCl windows on an infra-red (IR) spectrophotometer. Lipid content of the extract was calculated from the area of the IR spectrophotometric ester stretching band between 1700 and 1800cm-1. After evapora-tion of the heptane, the residue was determined gravimetically. The IR and gravimetric (where sufficient crude lipid quantities were present) results were generally in good agreement. Eigh-teen fish had lipid contents 1.1g/100g, ranging from 0.18 (birdbeak dogfish, Deania calceus) to 1.1g/100g (forkbeard, Phycis blennoides), while four had lipid contents ranging from 4.25 (Baird’s smoothead, Alepocephalus bairdii) to 16.2g/100g (snake mackerel, Nessiarchus nas-sutus). However, both snake mackerel and orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) produced IR spectra consistent with the literature findings that they contain high levels of undigestible wax esters. The ω-3 PUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5ω-3, EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6ω-3, DHA) were determined using capillary gas chromatography. As a source of dietary ω-3 PUFA, the low-fat fish were generally poor suppliers with amounts ranging from 0.04g/100g (birdbeak dogfish) to 0.29g/100g (greater argentine, Argentina silus) but several species were not substantially inferior to cod (Gadus morhua). The tw high lipid species containing large amounts of wax esters, although having appreciable levels of ω-3 PUFA would not be desirable from a dietary point of view. In most of the fish DHA was present at 3 to 6 times the level of EPA.

Investigation of biological activity of Lamii albi flos extracts

Methanol, ethyl acetate and heptane extracts of Lamium album L. ( Lamiaceae) were tested for the toxicity or ability to stimulate growth of human skin fibroblasts (HSF) in vitro. The biological effect depended on the HSF cells density and on the kind and concentration of extract that was used. At a density of 1 × 10 5 HSF cells/mL no cytotoxicity of extracts was observed during 24 h of incubation. During 24–72 h of incubation with a low (2 × 10 4 HSF cells/mL) density of cells, significant cytotoxicity was observed for methanol and ethyl acetate extracts at concentrations greater than 125 μg/mL. At concentration of 25 μg/mL the cells remained intact. However, when the cells were incubated with the heptane extract, there was observed relative high viability (>60%) of cells and significant, gradually increasing in time, cellular mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity, measured by MTT assay. Stimulation of human skin fibroblasts proliferation by the heptane extract of Lamii albi flos may indicate for its usefulness of wound healing in vivo and probability of perspectives its use in designing new medicinal plant preparations. In order to determine the biologically active compounds, the plant extracts were separated by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) on silica gel Si 60 F 254 combined with densitometry. Phenolic acids were investigated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Evidence for immunotoxic effects of crude Ginkgo biloba L. leaf extracts using the popliteal lymph node assay in the mouse

Allergic reactions due to contact with different parts of the ancient tree Ginkgo biloba L. have repeatedly been reported. Provocation tests in patients and animal experiments have identified alkylphenols such as ginkgolic acids as causative constituents. Leaf extracts from Ginkgo are widely used to treat peripheral or cerebral circulatory disorders and Alzheimer’s disease. Since alkylphenols are also present in leaves, potential allergic and other immunological hazards of such preparations have to be carefully controlled. Thus, we have evaluated if the popliteal lymph node assay (PLNA) in the mouse may represent a suitable model for the detection of constituents with immunotoxic properties in a complex mixture of biologically active agents such as plant extracts. Subplantar injection (2 mg) of a crude aqueous-ethanolic extract from Ginkgo leaves caused a significant lymphoproliferative reaction (LPR) in the ipsilateral popliteal lymph node. PLNA-active compounds in this extract could be enriched in the lipophilic phase by liquid–liquid partition between heptane and water. Chemical analysis of the heptane extract revealed the presence of a high concentration of alkylphenols (approx. 30%) and further subfractionation indicated that the enlargement of the popliteal lymph node was mainly due to the content of ginkgolic acids. This presumption was corroborated by observing a similar LPR following injection of a purified mixture of ginkgolic or hydroginkgolic acids. Thus, our experiments confirm that Ginkgo leaf extracts may contain constituents with immunotoxic properties, underlining the need to apply adequate production procedures to guarantee the completest possible removal of these compounds. The PLNA appears to represent a simple test model for the detection, characterisation and control of ingredients with potential immunotoxic side effects in complex herbal drugs.

A high molecular weight complex lipid, aliphatic polyaldehyde tetraterpenediol polyacetal from Botryococcus braunii (L race)

Abstract An aliphatic polyaldehyde tetraterpenediol polyacetal (APTP) has been isolated from the heptane extract of an Ivorian strain of the L chemical race of the green microalga, Botryococcus braunii. Size exclusion HPLC showed an unimodal distribution from Mr 5000 to 4000000, with a peak at 237000. The chemical structure of this soluble high Mr polymer was determined by spectroscopic methods and chemical degradation. The aliphatic polyaldehyde moiety is probably derived from the condensation–polymerization of a n-C32 diunsaturated α,ω-dialdehyde, involving an aldolization–dehydration mechanism. The acyclic tetraterpenediol is a 14,15-dihydroxy lycopa-18-ene, closely related to lycopadiene, the characteristic hydrocarbon produced by the L race of B. braunii. Acetalation of the polyaldehyde with the tetraterpenediol occurs for ca. seven aldehyde functions out of ten. Further extraction of the biomass with chloroform allowed isolation of an additional amount of polymer exhibiting by HPLC analysis a higher Mpeak (400000), but with similar spectroscopic features. The polymers were isolated from the heptane and chloroform extracts in a yield of 13.2 and 2% of the dry biomass, respectively. Moreover, the algaenan, i.e. the non-hydrolyzable highly aliphatic insoluble biomacromolecular material, present in the outer walls, has been isolated in a yield of 12.3% of the biomass, using a new isolation process which avoids the formation of artifactual materials and allows for a more efficient hydrolysis of some sterically hindered oxygenated functions. FTIR analysis and 400°C pyrolysis of this algaenan, and comparisons with APTP clearly indicated that the molecular structure of the algaenan of the L race is based on an aliphatic polyaldehyde network. Moreover, the results suggested that the algaenan is likely to be formed from the hydrolysis of a highly condensed or reticulated form of APTP, which cannot be extracted with solvents.

Performance of the Amperometric Biosensor with Immobilized Butyrylcholinesterase in Organic Solvents

The disposable electrochemical sensors with platinum composite electrode were successfully used for amperometric measurement of thiocholine produced from butyrylthiocholine by enzyme hydrolysis with butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, EC 3.1.1.8). The optimum potential was +500 mV vs the internal Ag/AgI/iodide (1 mmol/l) reference electrode. BChE was crosslinked with albumin and glutaraldehyde over the working electrode. Thus obtained biosensor was tested in various organic solvents (values of the hydrophobicity parameter log P from -1 to 5), no loss of activity was detected after a 5 min incubation in the solvents with log P greater than 2.5. The inhibition of the biosensor with paraoxon was studied in water, toluene, hexane, heptane and nonane. The extent of inhibition increased with solvent hydrophobicity (toluene > hexane > heptane), the inhibition obtained in water was similar as in heptane. Lower response than expected was obtained in nonane. The liquid-liquid extraction of paraoxon from aqueous samples to heptane provided significant improvement of sensitivity of the method. By this method, the lowest detected concentration of paraoxon was 0.03 μmol/l, resulting in the 20% inhibition of the biosensor signal after 5 min preincubation in the heptane extract.

Analysis of silicon levels in capsules of gel and saline breast implants and of penile prostheses.

Although a potential link between silicone-gel breast implants and autoimmune connective tissue disease has been suggested, none has been proven. The potential role of silicone as an immune adjuvant remains very controversial. Currently available techniques do not allow precise measurements of silicone in tissues. However, all compounds containing silicon (including silicone) can be measured accurately. The present study was designed to measure silicon levels in the fibrous capsules of patients with silicone-gel breast implants, saline breast implants, and silicone inflatable penile prostheses. Baseline control silicon levels were obtained from the breast tissue of patients undergoing breast reduction, who had no exposure to breast implants. All silicon measurements were carried out using atomic absorption spectrometry with a graphite furnace. Silicon was measured in a normal heptane extract of silicone from dried tissue. The mean silicon levels in 16 breast tissue control samples from 8 patients undergoing breast reduction varied from 0.025 to 0.742 micrograms/gm with the median mean being 0.0927. The median silicon level in capsules from six patients with saline implants was 7.7 micrograms/gm (range, 1.9-36.6 micrograms/gm). The median silicon level in capsules from five patients with silicone inflatable penile prostheses was 19.5 micrograms/gm (range, 1.9-34.8 micrograms/gm). Although the levels of silicon in capsules of patients with saline breast prostheses and penile implants were higher than in control samples, they were much lower than those from the capsules of the 58 gel implants (median, 9,979 micrograms/gm; range, 371-152,000 micrograms/gm).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Determination of Silicone in Breast Tissue by Graphite Furnace Continuum Source Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

A method has been developed for the determination of silicone in breast tissue samples using a graphite furnace continuum source atomic absorption spectrometer. Silicone was measured as Si present in a heptane extract of the dried tissue samples. Thirty tissue samples were examined from 16 women having silicone gel-filled breast implants. Concentrations of Si in the dried tissue samples ranged from below the method detection limit of 3 ppm, to 6%.

Estimation of pristane levels in murine ascites fluid and in purified monoclonal antibody preparations

A simple method for the rapid analysis of pristane has been designed using a heptane extract of the aqueous sample followed by separation and detection by gas chromatography. Ascites fluid lots from three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and their purified preparations were analysed using the procedure. The highest detected level of pristane was 600 μg/mL in a single lot of ascites fluid with other values less than 140 μg/ml. For the purified samples, no pristane was detected down to the demonstrated limit of 4 μg/mg of MAb.

Western Bean Cutworm, Loxagrotis albicosta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Female Sex Pheromone Identification1

A heptane extract prepared from the ovipositors of four adult western bean cutworm females was found to contain a mixture of (Z)-5-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, 11-dodencenyl acetate, and dodecyl acetate in a 5: 1 :5:5 proportion, respectively. Field studies using insect traps baited with various combinations of the four compounds showed that a mixture of the three olefinic acetates is the minimum set of compounds required for maximal trap capture of adult western bean cutworm males and that a rubber septum impregnated with 19.8 μg of a mixture of the three ole fins was more effective in causing male capture than one virgin western bean cutworm female. Results indicate that the olefinic compounds identified from the ovipositor extract represent the female sex pheromone complement of the species.

Determination of plastoquinone-9 in chloroplasts by high pressure liquid chromatography

A method for the specific determination of nmol quantities of plastoquinone-9 in chloroplasts is described. HPLC of a heptane extract of chloroplasts separated the plastoquinone-9 from other material permitted a final spectrophotometric assay. Levels of plastoquinone-9 plastoquinol-9 were determined in dark adapted and illuminated chloroplasts.

Analysis of extractables from one euphorbia

AbstractChemical analyses have been made of the heptane extractable material ofEuphorbia lathyris, a plant which has been proposed as an “energy farm” candidate. The heptane extract is 4–5% of the dry plant weight and has a heat value of ≈18×103 BTU/Ib. This reduced photosynthetic material consists almost entirely of polycyclic triterpenoids.