title: Effects of Jatropha curcas oil in Lactuca sativa root tip bioassays.
abstract: Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) is important for biofuel production and as a feed ingredient for animal. However, the presence of phorbol esters in the oil and cake renders the seeds toxic. The toxicity of J. curcas oil is currently assessed by testing in animals, leading to their death. The identification of toxic and nontoxic improved varieties is important for the safe use of J. curcas seeds and byproducts to avoid their environmental toxicity. Hence, the aim of this study was to propose a short-term bioassay using a plant as a model to screen the toxicity of J. curcas oil without the need to sacrifice any animals. The toxicity of J. curcas oil was evident in germination, root elongation and chromosomal aberration tests in Lactuca sativa. It was demonstrated that J. curcas seeds contain natural compounds that exert phyto-, cyto- and genotoxic effects on lettuce, and that phorbol esters act as aneugenic agents, leading to the formation of sticky chromosomes and c-metaphase cells. In conclusion, the tests applied have shown reproducibility, which is important to verify the extent of detoxification and to determine toxic doses, thus reducing the numbers of animals that would be used for toxicity tests.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia, Centro de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Alto Universitario, Alegre, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: Larissa F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Andrade-Vieira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia, Centro de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Alto Universitario, Alegre, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carolina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Botelho
authors.affiliation: Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria/EMBRAPA Agroenergia, Parque Estacao Biologica/PqEB, Brasilia, DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Bruno G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Laviola
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Campus Universitario, Lavras, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marcel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia, Centro de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Alto Universitario, Alegre, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: Milene M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Praça-Fontes
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D025063:Chromosome Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000187:drug effects*; D031286:Jatropha / Q000633:toxicity*; D018545:Lactuca / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000633:toxicity*; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils