Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1995-2-13
pubmed:abstractText
Ratanjyot (Jatropha curcas) grows wild in many parts of India and Brazil. Experimental studies on the toxicity of its oil are scarce despite its use as a cathartic purgative, for treatment of many ailments in human medicine and in industrial applications. This study aims to provide data on its toxicity. The proximate composition of the kernels and physicochemical characteristics of its oil were determined. The kernels constitute 62% of the seed and contain 52% oil, which is reported to contain phorbol esters. A toxic fraction (2.4%) containing the phorbol esters was isolated from the oil. The acute oral LD50 of the oil was found to be 6 ml/kg body weight in rats. The oil caused severe diarrhoea and gastro-intestinal inflammation. The isolated toxic fraction, when applied to the skin of rabbits and rats, produced a severely irritant reaction followed by necrosis; in mice, this fraction had a dermally toxic and lethal effect. The oil and the toxic fraction at 25 and 1 mg respectively in 10 ml saline showed haemolytic activity, disrupting red blood cells. Detoxification or complete removal of the potent toxins present in ratanjyot oil is essential before its use in industrial applications or in human medicine can be considered.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0278-6915
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
33
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
39-42
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-3-13
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1995
pubmed:articleTitle
Toxicological studies on ratanjyot oil.
pubmed:affiliation
Environmental Safety Laboratory, Hindustan Lever Ltd, Chakala, Andheri (East), Bombay, India.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article