Can Any One Justify Use Of Poisonous Jatrophs?

 

Friends,

It is scandalous a poisonous weed which is invasive means dominating that exterminates most plant and animal species is being promoted by our chief executive who is actually suppose to protect us.

 

In country where over 50% population goes to bed empty stomach, GOI is promoting cultivation of poisonous specie on 30 million hectares so that rich may be able to run their Pajaros using cheap bio-fuel.

 

Hindustan Lever has confirmed its high toxicity. Its leaf or bark too is not suitable for fish. And can be used to kill unwanted fish in fish ponds.

 

There is no way adulteration of this oil be prevented. When people can adulterate milk, diesel oil and mustard oil, it will be more profitable to adulterate vegetable oils.

 

We ought to actually destroy Jatropha before it destroys us.

 

Let us all write to the President or file a PIL.

 

Ravinder Singh

26/08/05

 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=QuickSearchListURL&_method=list&_aset=V-WA-A-W-AUA-MsSAYVA-UUW-U-AAWDZZBVZE-AAWCWVVWZE-BUCUBZWVU-AUA-U&_sort=d&view=c&_st=13&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_userid=10&md5=95c4dbc16772ec80d7f6c91dcd5e61b6

 

Toxicological studies on ratanjyot oil

V. M. Gandhi, K. M. Cherian and M. J. Mulky

Environmental Safety Laboratory, Hindustan Lever Ltd, Chakala, Andheri (East), Bombay-400099, India

Accepted 29 July 1994. ; Available online 2 May 2003.

Abstract

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 I 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.

Pregnancy terminating effect of Jatropha curcas in rats

M. M. Goonasekera^a, V. K. Gunawardana^b, , K. Jayasena^a, S. G. Mohammed^a and S. Balasubramaniam<sup>c

a</sup> Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
^b Department of Preclinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
^c Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Received 16 August 1994;  accepted 15 March 1995. ; Available online 29 March 2000.

Abstract

The fertility regulatory effect of the fruit of Jatropha curcas was investigated by oral administration of different extracts to pregnant rats for varying periods of time. Foetal resorption was observed with methanol, petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts indicating the abortifacient properties of the fruit. The results also suggest that the interruption of pregnancy occurred at an early stage after implantation. This effect could be accomplished even when the extracts were given from the 6th to the 8th day of pregnancy. Loss of body weight during the dosing period, ranging from slight to severe was seen in the treated animals. Marked toxicity was observed with some extracts when given over a comparatively long period of about 10 days.

 

Author Keywords: Jatropha curcas; Anti-fertility agents; Medicinal plants; Abortifacient agents

Piscicidal effect of some common plants of India commonly used in freshwater bodies against target animals

Digvijay Singh ^{, , a} and Ajay Singh <sup>, b

a</sup> National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Canal Ring Road, P.O. Dilkusha, Lucknow 226 002, UP, India
^b Department of Zoology, DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur 273 009, UP, India

Received 3 August 2001;  accepted 28 February 2002.  Available online 28 May 2002.

Abstract

Mortality caused by the aqueous extracts of leaf and stem bark of four plants belonging to family Euphorbiaceae and Apocynaceae against freshwater fish Channa punctatus has been reported. It was found that dilute aqueous solutions of leaf and stem bark were active in killing the fishes. The toxic effect of stem bark of all the plants were time as well as dose dependent. There was significant negative correlation between LC₅₀ and exposure periods. Thus, the LC₅₀ values of stem bark extracts of Euphorbia royleana, Jatropha gossypifolia, Nerium indicum and Thevetia peruviana were decreased from 0.050 g/l (24 h) > to 0.020 g/l (96 h); 4.61 g/l (24 h) > to 4.34 g/l (96 h); 0.097 g/l (24 h) > to 0.041 g/l (96 h) and 4.05 g/l (24 h) > to 3.17 g/l (96 h), respectively. It has been suggested that these plant products cannot be used directly in freshwater bodies, without their detailed studies on long-term effects on non-target organism as well their structure activity relationship.

Author Keywords: Fish Channa punctatus; Euphorbia royleana; Jatropha gossypifolia; Nerium indicum; Thevetia peruviana; Piscicidal activity

 

Corresponding authors. Tel.: +91-0522-442440x41; fax: +91-0522-442403 (D. Singh). Tel.: +91-0551-201171 (A. Singh); email: digvijaysin@...

Biochemical alteration in freshwater fish Channa punctatus due to latices of Euphorbia royleana and Jatropha gossypifolia

Digvijay Singh^{a, b} and Ajay Singh <sup>, , b

a</sup> National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Canal Ring Road, P.O. Dilkusha, Lucknow 226 002, UP, India
^b Department of Zoology, D.D.U. Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur 273 009, UP, India

Received 20 June 2001;  revised 24 October 2001;  accepted 3 April 2002.  Available online 30 April 2002.

Abstract

Exposure of fish over 96 h to 40 and 80% of LC₅₀ (24 h) of aqueous latex extracts of Euphorbia royleana and Jatropha gossypifolia of family Euphorbiaceae significantly altered the level of total protein, total free amino acids, nucleic acids, pyruvate, lactate, glycogen and as well as protease activity also in muscle, liver and gonadal tissue of the fish Channa punctatus. The alterations in all the biochemical parameters were significantly dose-dependent. Withdrawal study also shows that there is a partial recovery in the levels of glycogen, pyruvate, lactate and nucleic acids, but nearly complete recovery in total protein, total free amino acids level and protease activity in all the three tissues of the fish after the 7th day of the withdrawal of treatment, which supports the view that the plant product is safer in use as pesticides for control of common weed fishes in culture ponds.

Author Keywords: Euphorbia royleana; Jatropha gossypifolia; Channa punctatus; Metabolism

Corresponding author; email: ajay_s@...