Toxic effects of Jatropha curcas in mice

Male strain A.S.1 mice were fed with Jatropha curcas seeds at concentrations of 50, 40, 20, 10, 5 and 1% of the diet. The effects of the different dietary concentrations on mortality, clinical response and pathological changes were studied. A high mortality was found in mice on 50 and 40% Jatropha. Mortality was lower in those fed Jatropha at concentrations of 20, 10 and 5% of feed and 1% Jatropha did not cause death. The important symptoms of poisoning included diarrhoea, inability to keep normal posture, depression and lateral recumbency. The degree of the pathological changes observed in the small intestines, liver, heart, kidneys and lungs was related to the level of Jatropha in the diet. The most marked pathological changes were catarrhal enteritis, erosions of the intestinal mucosa, congestion and haemorrhages in small intestines, heart and lungs and fatty change in the liver and kidneys. © 1974.