Abstraet--RaLanjyot (Jatropha curcas) grows wild in many parts of India and Brazil. Experimental studies
on the toxicity of its oil are scarce despite its use as a cathartic purgative, for treatment of many ailments
in human medicine and in industrial applications. This study aims to provide data on its toxicity. The
proximate coraposition of the kernels and physicochemical characteristics of its oil were determined. The
kernels constiLute 62% of the seed and contain 52% oil, which is reported to contain phorbol esters. A
toxic fraction (2.4%) containing the phorbol esters was isolated from the oil. The acute oral LDs0 of the
oil was found to be 6 ml/kg body weight in rats. The oil caused severe diarrhoea and gastro-intestinal
inflammation. The isolated toxic fraction, when applied to the skin of rabbits and rats, produced a severely
irritant reaction followed by necrosis; in mice, this fraction had a dermally toxic and lethal effect. The
oil and the toxic fraction at 25 and I mg respectively in I0 ml saline showed haemolytic activity, disrupting
red blood cells. Detoxification or complete removal of the potent toxins present in ratanjyot oil is essential
before its use in industrial applications or in human medicine can be considered.