Determinación del perfil fitoquímico de hoja y fruto de Jatropha curcas (tempate) en Costa Rica (Fase I)

In recent decades, the cultivation of Jatropha curcas (known as physic nut tree) has increased due to the
production of biodiesel from its seed oil. J. curcas leaf and fruit are also used for medicinal purposes, and the
plant has been shown to have great potential for the development of cosmetic and pharmacological products.
However, the medicinal use of J. curcas has been limited because some of its phytochemicals (especially the
phorbol esters) are toxic to humans and animals, and it is difficult to differentiate the toxic varieties with the
naked eye. Background. Previous studies carried out at the Biotechnology Research Center (CIB) of Costa
Rica Institute of Technology (ITCR) have characterized the geographic distribution and cultivation of J. curcas
in Costa Rica, as well as the genetic diversity and phorbol esters content in the seed of J. curcas varieties in
the country. In addition, in the VIE project "Characterization of the in vitro biological activity of three native
Costa Rican plant species of scientific interest" (2012-2014), a preliminary evaluation of the biological effects
of a J. curcas leaf extract was carried out, which exhibited strong anticancer activity against human cells of
five types of cancer. Problem. Despite its great bioactive potential and genetic diversity, a complete
comparative study of bioactive phytochemicals (except phorbol esters) present in toxic and non-toxic tempate
varieties in Costa Rica has not been conducted. This characterization would allow selecting the varieties of
plants with the greatest bioactive potential, based on the identification of the most efficient chemical fractions
and extraction methods, to obtain extracts with the greatest potential for the development of eventual cosmetic
and pharmacological products. Methodology. Extracts of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic fractions of leaf and
fruit of two toxic varieties and two non-toxic varieties of J. curcas cultivated in Costa Rica will be generated. In
these extracts, we will determine the total content of polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, chlorophylls, sugars,
and brix degrees; the presence of saponins, alkaloids, terpenes, and steroids; as well as antioxidant capacity
(ORAC, DPPH), and proximal composition. Phorbol esters, the most abundant polyphenols, and vitamin E
content will also be quantified, and a complete phytochemical characterization of the two best extracts obtained
will be carried out using HPLC-MS. Expected results. The information will be published in at least one
scientific article and will be used to postulate a second phase of the project to study the bioactive effects of the
selected extracts in preclinical tests. It is expected to reach a third phase for the development of possible
cosmetic and pharmaceutical products.

Elucidar el perfil fitoquímico de hoja y fruto de Jatropha curcas (tempate) en Costa Rica (Fase I)

1. Escuela de Biología: Biotecnología Vegetal
2. Escuela de Biología: Aplicaciones Biomédicas
3. Escuela de Química: Bioprospecció