Jatrogricaine A (1), a new diterpenoid possessing a 5/6/6/4 carbon ring system, together with eight known diterpenoids (2-9) were isolated from the stems of Jatropha podagrica. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods and the absolute configuration of 1 was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. All compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activities in vitro, and compound 3 showed significant inhibitory effects against nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells with an IC of 13.44 ± 0.28 μmol·L, being comparable to the positive control, quercetin (IC 17.00 ± 2.10 μmol·L).
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Carbon ; analysis ; Diterpenes ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Jatropha ; chemistry ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; RAW 264.7 Cells

OBJECTIVEThe genetic diversity and genetic relationship of Jatropha curcas resources in Sichuan and Yunnan were studied in order to provide a theoretical basis for breeding fine varieties and protecting germplasm resources.

METHODTen J. curcas populations were studied by 12 cpSSR primers in this paper. On the base of amplified bands, genetic diversity parameters were analyzed by POPGENE version 1.32. Furthermore, UPGMA tree of 10 J. curcas populations established from pairwise population distance by NTSYSpc version 2.10.

RESULTTwenty-two polymorphic bands were detected, and the percentage of polymorphic loci (P) was 76.28%. Among of the 10 J. curcas populations, the average percentage of polymorphic loci of YNSB was higher than that of the other populations, and it reached 95.45%; On the other hand, that of YNLS was the lowest in all populations, and it was 45.45%. Nei's gene diversity index(H(e)), Shannon information index(I), Effective Num of alleles(A(e)) were respectively 0.4020, 0.576 7, 1.713 6. The total gene diversity (H(T)), the gene differentiation coefficient (G(st)), the gene flow (N(m)) and the gene diversity within populations (H(s)) were 0.443 3, 0.080 2, 3.058 5, 0.405 1, 0.035 7, respectively. The highest gene diversity ratio was showed within populations and the lowest among populations. The results by AMOVA analysis showed that 91.02% of genetic variation existed within populations while 8.98% of genetic variation existed among populations. On the base of the results, the conclusion was extracted that variation existed mainly within populations, and the variation within populations was bigger than that among populations. The result was consistent with that of the gene differentiation coefficient. The order of the genetic diversity was YNLS population < XSBN population < SCHPZ population < SCHD population < SCJH population < YNPR population < SCLB population < YNSB population < YNFY population < SCHL population. The range of Nei's genetic identity and genetic distance of 10 respectively populations were respectively 0.812 7-0.979 8, 0.020 4-0.207 3. All these showed the similarity was higher and there was a close relationship among the 10 respectively populations; Results based on the cluster analysis showed that 10 respectively populations were divided into 2 groups: one was SCJH population and CHPZ population, the other was SCHL population, SCHD population, SCLB population, YNSB population, YNFY population, YNPR population, XSBN population and YNLS population.

CONCLUSIONSignificant genetic diversity was observed among respectively resources in Sichuan and Yunnan. On the other hand, genetic relationship was close between populations.

China ; Chloroplasts ; genetics ; Genetic Markers ; Genetic Variation ; Jatropha ; classification ; genetics ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Phylogeny

Jatropha curcas L., has been widely recognized as a potential source of biodiesel. In this review, we presented several aspects about the recent progress in molecular biology of J. curcas. First, molecular markers were used to assess its genetic diversity. Second, large-scale genome, transcriptome and proteome analyses were applied for decoding its molecular network. Third, functional characterization of key genes involved in metabolism and regulation of plant development was performed to breed lines with higher quality or higher resistance. Finally, we discussed the limitation of current progress and then proposed the future molecular biology research on J. curcas.
Genetic Variation ; Genome, Plant ; genetics ; Jatropha ; genetics ; Proteome ; genetics ; Transcriptome ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo determine the chemical constituents of Jatropha curcas.

METHODChemical constituents were obtained using various chromatography methods including silica gel column chromatography and HPLC. The structures of isolated compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods including 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and MS.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONFourteen phenolic compounds were obtained from the stems of J. curcas and their structures were identified to be 5,4'-dihydroxy-3, 7, 3'-trimethoxyflavone (1), 5, 3', 4'-trihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyflavone (2), 3-O-methylquercetin (3), 5, 6, 7-trimethoxycoumarin (4), tomentin (5), isoscopoletin (6), omega-hydroxypropioquaiacone (7), coniferaldehyde (8), 3, 5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (9), vanillic acid (10), isovanillin (11), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (12), cimifugin (13) and (E)-3-hydroxy-5-methoxy-stilbene (14). Among them, compounds 1-4 and 6-14 were isolated from the genus of Jatropha for the first time.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Jatropha ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Phenols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

A number of herbs belonging to the genus Jatropha of Euphorbiaceae family are noted for their medicinal benefits. The genus Jatropha is one of the prospective biodiesel yielding crops. The plants which have been so far explored include J. curcas, J. gossypifolia, J. glandulifera, J. multifida and J. podagrica. Although, the plants of this genus are widely distributed, there is an exiguity of scientific literature proclaiming the medicinal benefits of the plants belonging to genus Jatropha. The present paper is a pragmatic approach to accrue the findings on this very significant genus.
Analgesics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Anthelmintics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Anticonvulsants ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antidiarrheals ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Jatropha ; chemistry ; classification

Different geographic seed sources (80) of Jatropha curcas L. were collected in South China and planted in a germplasm resource garden to study their biological and agricultural properties. The average ground diameter, tree height and crown size of two-year old plants of the 80 sources was 7.6 cm, 167 cm and 114 cm, respectively, the average 1000-seed weight was 0.676 (0.477-0.876) kg. The trees grew further to the average size of 12.6 cm diameter, 2.69 m height and 2.1 m crown at the 4th year. Among the 80 sources, six sources had higher oil yield (seed oil content of 40%-42%) and better behaving in expression of phenotype were selected for a small-scale trial of forestation to determine oil yield. Among them a provenance with outstand in expression of phenotype yielded 964.3, 2000.6 and 2858.7 kg/ha was achieved for two- three- and four-year old trees, respectively. Additionally, a new Jatropha mutant was found in the wild and hybridization experiments showed that its oil content increased by 6%.
Biofuels ; Breeding ; Culture Techniques ; methods ; Jatropha ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Plant Oils ; analysis ; Seeds ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo construct mature protein curcin gene prokaryotic expression vectors in Escherichia coli and choose the optimal inducing condition of the recombinant strains.

METHODThe gene encoding of curcin was amplified from the genome of Jatropha curcas seeds by PCR and cloned into the expression vectors pQE-30 and pET-32 obtaining recombinant vectors pQE-R and pET-R respectively. The two vectors were transferred into E. coli BL21 (DE3) and the recombinant strains PRM and PRB were attained respectively. PRM and PRB were induced by different revulsants and under different temperature and time.

RESULTThe gene encoding of mature protein curcin was amplified by PCR and the recombinant strains PRM and PRB were obtained.

CONCLUSIONThe results showed that PRB could not produce recombinant protein under such conditions. However, PRM could highly produce recombinant protein induced by 0.5 mmol x L(-1) IPTG at 28 degrees C for 6 h.

Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genome, Plant ; genetics ; Jatropha ; genetics ; Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the molluscicidal activities of methanol extract of Jatropha curcas leaves against Ampullaria gigas.

METHODSYoung snails, adult snails and eggs of Ampullaria gigas were treated with the methanol extract of J. curcas leaves at different doses for different time lengths and the molluscicidal effects of the extract were evaluated.

RESULTSThe methanol extract showed a significant molluscicidal effect on the young snails at a low concentration, and treatment with 75 mg/L extract for more than 3 days resulted in a 100% mortality rate of the young snails. The Jatropha leaf methanol extract also showed toxicity to adult snails and eggs.

CONCLUSIONJatropha leaves have a great potential for developing green pesticides to control Ampullaria gigas, but its biochemical mechanism needs further research.

Animals ; Jatropha ; chemistry ; Methanol ; chemistry ; Molluscacides ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Snails ; classification ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the sensitivity of Jatropha curcas seeds from three different locations to (60)Co-gamma radiation and to determine the medial lethal doses (LD50) of (60)Co-gamma radiation for these seeds.

METHODSSix different radiation doses (0, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 Gy) were used. Based on the germination rate 50%, LD50 doses of (60)Co-gamma radiation for the seeds were calculated using linear regression equation.

RESULTSLD50 doses of (60)Co-gamma radiation for these seeds were 178 Gy (seeds from Guangdong), 132 Gy (seeds from Hainan) and 198 Gy (seeds from India) respectively. Increasing radiation doses caused more significant changes in leaf shape of the M1 seedlings.

CONCLUSIONThe results provides an important experimental basis for the radiation breeding of the important herbal and energy plant J. curcas.

Cobalt Radioisotopes ; toxicity ; Gamma Rays ; Germination ; radiation effects ; Jatropha ; radiation effects ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Seeds ; radiation effects

OBJECTIVETo analyze the bioactive components in Jatropha curcas leaves using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

METHODSThe bioactive components were extracted from J. curcas leaves by supercritical fluid CO2 extraction and analyzed by using GC-MS.

RESULTSSeventy peaks were detected by GC-MS, and 43 compounds were identified (61.43%). Among the identified compounds, 16 had a content of more than 1%, and the total contents of these 16 compounds reached 81.36%. The four most abundant components were 22,23-dihydro-stigmasterol (16.14%), alpha-tocopherol (15.18%), beta-amylin (7.73%) and dotriacontanol (7.02%). The content of gamma-tocopherol reached 2.88% and vitamin E reached 18.06% in the extract.

CONCLUSIONJ. curcas leaves contain multiple compounds with anti-tumor, anti-virus and antimicrobial activities.

Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; methods ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Jatropha ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry