Abstract The non-toxic Jatropha curcas flour has been characterized in numerous studies that have demonstrated its nutritional properties and its safe consumption for humans; however, the refined oil has not been characterized biochemically and toxicologically. Its main physicochemical parameters have been determined as well as its fatty acids profile, which showed to be like commercial oils. Its acute toxicity assessment revealed that at a dose of 2000-5000 mg/kg of body weight, the fatty acids were innocuous, indicating its edible grade. Its biological assessment was also performed in rats, using a standard diet, and substituting it with refined and not refined J. curcas oil, without observing differences in weight gain, interference in protein efficiency, and change in liver weight due to the oil consumption, indicating that it is safe as food. Hence, the non-toxic J. curcas seeds of Mexico could be a source of edible oil.

ABSTRACT Moussonia deppeana (Schltdl. & Cham.) Klotzsch ex Hanst., Gesneriaceae, known as tlachichinole, is a Mexican medicinal plant used for treatment of chronic inflammation-related diseases such as arthritis. In this paper, the main metabolite verbascoside was quantified in ethanolic extract; anti-arthritic and antioxidant activities were also evaluated in Complete Freund's Adjuvant induced arthritis in mice, with complete hematological evaluation, and oxidative stress measure in edema and ganglionic tissues on day 28. In popliteal ganglion, CD4+ lymphocytes and tumor necrosis factor alpha concentration were measured in addition to histological analysis. Ethanolic extract contained 79.2 mg of verbascoside/g extract, and this extract at 450 mg/kg generated an inhibition of 24% over paw edema development and increased body weight gain on final day. For hematological parameters, same dose decreased total leukocytes and lymphocytes, as well as decreased oxidation rate over biomolecules in edema and ganglionic tissues, and increased antioxidant enzyme activity. In ganglionic tissue, CD4+ lymphocytes and tumor necrosis factor alpha level showed no differences at any tested dose compared to complete Freund's adjuvant untreated group. Histological analysis of popliteal ganglion revealed moderate reduction of follicular hyperplasia, leukocyte infiltration and lipid inclusions at 450 mg/kg dose. Ethanolic extract of M. deppeana possesses anti-edematous activity associated to a moderate reduction in follicular hyperplasia, with immune-modulatory and antioxidant effects during experimental arthritis in mice.