Chemistry of Phorbol Ester Toxicity in Jatropha curcas Seed – a Review

The toxicity of Jatropha curcas seeds emanates mainly from phorbol esters. It is known that the seeds are a valuable source of oil, which can be used to produce biodiesel. The cake generated as a by-product, after oil pressing is a protein-rich potential stock for animal feed. Researchers, the world over, have studied these phorbol esters and investigated ways of improving the applications of the seed meal. This review paper outlines the previous research done on the Jatropha curcas plant, the toxicity of phorbol esters and the efforts made to detoxify the seed. It also highlights the knowledge gaps concerning the chemistry of phorbol ester toxicity and the probable areas of future research.