Efficient Vortex-assisted Extraction of Phorbol Esters from Jatropha Leaves and Correlation Between Leaves and Seeds in Phorbol EstersContent

This work aimed to optimise and validate the vortex-assisted extraction with high-performance liquid chromatography ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) method to quantify phorbol esters (PEs) in  Jatropha leaves. Additionally, to evaluate the correlation between PEs content in leaves and seeds. The results  of PEs content were expressed as equivalent of the major Jatropha phorbol ester, 12-deoxy-16-hydroxyphorbol-4’-[12’,14’-butadienyl]-6’-[16’,18’,20’-  nonatrienyl]-bicyclo[3.1.0]-hexane- (13-O)-2’-[carboxylate]-(16-O)-3’-]8’-butenoic-10’]ate (DHPB) . One-variable-at-time strategy and 25−1 V factorial  fractional design were employed to determine the effects of solvent type, volume, stirring frequency, extraction time and cycles on yield. The  quantification was performed using HPLC-UV. The optimum conditions were three extractions with 2% tetrahydrofuran:dichloromethane (1:1) in  methanol (THF:DCM/MeOH). The sample:solvent ratio was 1 mg:25 µL, and the vortex stirring was 2200 rpm for 5 minutes. The method showed good  linearity (R2 0.999), recoveries (97 to 105%), selectivity and repeatability (RSD 1.93-7.95%). In addition, good limits of detection and quantification of 2.19  and 6.65 ng µL−1, respectively, were noted. DHPB content in leaves and seeds ranged from 0.01 to 0.38 mg g−1 and 0.41 to 1.82 mg g−1, respectively.  There is a statistically significant and positive linear relationship between leaves and seeds for DHPB content. These results may have practical application  in analysing and predicting the amount of PEs in Jatropha leaves for environmental safety studies and the selection of better varieties for  genetic improvement. &nbsp

Vortex-assisted Solid-Liquid Extraction for Rapid Screening of Oil Content in Jatropha Seed: an Alternative to the Modified Soxhlet Method

In this study, an optimized vortex-assisted method for rapid screening of oil content in Jatropha curcas L. (Jatropha) seeds is described. A 24-1IV fractional  factorial design was employed to study the influence of vortex stirring rate, sample:solvent ratio, extraction time, and the number of extraction cycles in  the Jatropha oil extraction efficiency. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for the identification of the fatty acids. The number of  extraction cycles was the most important factor, and the optimum conditions were two extractions with hexane at a sample:solvent ratio of 1:5 mg:µL,  under vortex-stirring at 2500 rpm for 1 min. Linoleic acid, oleic acid and palmitic acid were the major fatty acids of Jatropha oil. The method showed  inherent advantages of simplicity, accuracy, short time of analysis, and low consumption of both organic solvent and sample, and may serve as a cost-  effective alternative to the modified Soxhlet method in estimation of oil content and composition in Jatropha breeding programmes. &nbsp