Wang et al. report that an isomeric mixture of 3 hydroxy-octadecenoic acids, instead of widely recognised phorbol esters, are the major toxic component of Jatropha curcas kernel cake. They test its effects on animal models and also attempt to elucidate the mechanism behind the toxicity, with a goal to help establish an environmentally friendly Jatropha biofuel industry.
- Xing-Hong Wang
- Jie-Qing Liu
- Changhe Zhang
