Investigation of Jatropha curcas L., Euphorbiaceae

Jatropha curcas L. (family Euphorbiaceae), a poisonous plant which is widely grown in the Southern Region of the Sudan. It was investigated for molluscicidal activity against the snail Bulinus trancatucs and was found to exhibit low toxicity. Phytochemical screening tests were conducted; alkaloids, saponins and sterols and/or triterpens were detected in the different morphological parts of the plant, whilst tannins were found in the leaves and seeds only. The plant was found to be devoid of glycosids (Cyanogenic. Anthraquinone or Cardenolide). Isolation of pure alkaloid from the seed was not successful, but a number of other compounds were isolated using two different methods of extractions: Acetone - alcohol extract yielded four compounds, Ac/Et-I (C18 H34 O3), Ac/Et-II (C30 H54 O5), Ac/Et-III (C18 H36 O2) and Ac/Et-IV (C18 H35 OH); Cloroform extract of the defattted seed yielded SC2-A (C16 H32 O2), SC2-B (C24 H41 O4 and SC3 (C26 H52 O8). Hydrolysis of SC2-B afforded an alcohol identified as diacetone alcohol (C6 H12 O2). However, exact structures still remain to be settled.

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