EFFECTS OF DETOXIFICATION ON SOME PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF JATROPHA CURCAS LINN. (EUPHORBIACEAE) SEED OIL IN LABORATORY ANIMALS

📄 Project Abstract

Jatropha curcas seed oil is a known energy source in biodiesel which but for its toxicity, also has potential of being used as food and in the pharmaceutical / cosmetic industries. This study was designed to detoxify solvent and mechanically extracted J. curcas oils and to ascertain the effects of detoxification on acute and sub-acute toxicities as well as on analgesic and laxative activities in laboratory animals. Following determination of the physicochemical properties of the extracted oils, detoxification of the oils was attempted by both the usual synthetic method of orthophosphoric acid degumming, sodium hydroxide deacidification, tonsil decolourisation and vacuum-heat deodorization; and by the use of natural materials in place of the synthetic agents such as distilled water for orthophosphoric acid, plantain peel ash extract for sodium hydroxide and bentonite for tonsil. Phytoconstituents, elemental and phorbol esters compositions of the oils were also determined. Acute toxicity...