Search Results (277)

Bioenergy development from biomass resources requires multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods to rank and select suitable feedstock alternatives. Conventional TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) is a widely used MCDM method that assists in selecting alternatives based on their relative closeness to the ideal solution. Unlike the existing TOPSIS, which provides only an overall ranking of alternatives, this study proposes a framework that integrates TOPSIS ranking with threshold-based performance classification and mapping to enable a more comprehensive assessment and support decision-making, thereby improving the interpretability of complex multi-criteria decision problems. The proposed framework was applied to evaluate, rank, and select eight potential biomass feedstocks in Ethiopia by integrating feedstock availability, technological readiness, and economic criteria. The ranking results indicate that molasses is the most suitable, followed by non-edible oil crops (castor seed, Ethiopian mustard, and Jatropha curcas) and lignocellulosic residues (cereal, cane, and coffee residues), while water hyacinth ranked lowest. The results were mapped into a strategic implementation timeline, with molasses prioritized for the short term, non-edible oil crops for the medium term, and lignocellulosic residues for the long term in Ethiopia’s bioenergy development. The study further supports decision-makers in strategic energy planning and facilitates bioenergy development. Full article

The development of bio-based hygiene products offers a sustainable approach to managing infectious topical pathogens while reducing dependence on synthetic antimicrobials. This study evaluated the antibacterial efficacy of soap formulated with Jatropha multifida leaf ethanolic extract (25%, 50%, and 75% v/v) against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Antibacterial activity was determined using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method alongside positive and negative controls. All extract-infused soap formulations exhibited distinct, measurable zones of inhibition (ZOI) ranging from 16.33 mm to 17.67 mm for S. aureus and 16.33 mm to 18.00 mm for E. coli, consistently achieving an “Active” qualitative classification. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated highly significant differences across the entire dataset (p < 0.001). However, Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) post hoc test revealed no statistically significant differences in antibacterial performance among the 25%, 50%, and 75% concentrations (p > 0.05). This indicates a performance plateau caused by agar diffusion limits or micellar entrapment within the soap base. J. multifida maintains antibacterial integrity within a soap matrix, offering a viable plant-based antiseptic alternative against S. aureus and E. coli. Formulating at a 25% concentration represents the optimal commercial choice, maximizing antimicrobial performance while minimizing raw material costs. Full article

This work examines the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of a diesel engine coated with a ceramic thermal barrier coating and fueled with emulsified Jatropha biodiesel blended with water and butanol. A low heat rejection (LHR) engine was prepared by depositing a 100 µm NiCrAlY bond coat and a 200 µm of 8YSZ ceramic top coat via air plasma spraying. B20W10Bu5, B20W10Bu10, and B20W10Bu15 ternary emulsions were successfully produced using ultrasonic homogenization. The experimental outcomes indicate that the ceramic-coated engine exhibited higher thermal efficiency than that of the conventional engine. The highest performance was achieved with B20W10Bu10 fuel, which resulted in a 7.4% increase in the brake thermal efficiency and a 7.8% decrease in the brake-specific fuel consumption relative to the results for the conventional coated diesel engine. Hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and smoke emissions decreased considerably due to the combined impacts of oxygenated fuel composition, micro-explosions, and thermal insulation capability. It can be seen from the discussion above that the utilization of a ceramic thermal barrier coating and the Jatropha-based ternary emulsion fuel, especially B20W10Bu10, shows great promise for enhancing engine performance while lowering exhaust emissions. Full article

Jatropha curcas L. is an important biofuel plant, but its narrow cultivation range and low seed yield limit its large-scale commercialization. Both genetic improvement and the large-scale clonal propagation of elite genotypes require an efficient and reliable regeneration system. In this study, a high-frequency adventitious shoot regeneration protocol was developed using leaf explants from one-year-old greenhouse-grown plants derived from seeds. An L₉(3³) orthogonal design was employed to optimize the concentrations of plant growth regulators (PGRs). The optimal combination for adventitious shoot induction was 1.0 mg·L⁻¹ TDZ, 0.5 mg·L⁻¹ IBA, and 1.5 mg·L⁻¹ BA. Furthermore, the effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide donor, was investigated. Supplementation with 2.0 mg·L⁻¹ SNP significantly increased both the regeneration frequency and the shoot number per explant when compared to the control. Leaf maturity also significantly influenced the regeneration capacity, with the fourth expanded leaf at the light-green stage showing the greatest response. Under optimized conditions, including PGRs, SNP, and appropriate explant maturity, adventitious shoots were observed within 4 weeks, with a regeneration frequency of 88.0% and an average of 18.7 shoots per explant. This system provides a practical basis for the propagation and genetic improvement of J. curcas. Full article

Belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family, the Jatropha genus is a promising source for the discovery of antitumor compounds. Jatropha ribifolia is a traditionally used species in folk medicine in the semi-arid region of Brazil, with a few chemical and pharmacological reports. Based on that, the aim of the current work is to isolate, structurally characterize, and assess the cytotoxic activity of isolated compounds through in vitro and in silico analyses. To achieve these main goals, the underground parts were dried, extracted and purified using classical and instrumental chromatographic techniques, leading to the isolation of 16 compounds. Altogether with HR-ESI-MS, IR, one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments, eight previously unreported diterpenes, named ribifolones A-H, along with eight known compounds, were obtained and are herein described. Regarding their activity against melanoma (SK-MEL-28) and colorectal cancer (HCT-116) cell lines, jatrophone was the most potent with IC₅₀ values of 6.19 µM and 10.09 µM, followed by ribifolone C that exhibited a moderate cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ values of 50.71 µM and 33.39 µM, respectively. Network pharmacology analysis suggests the involvement of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway in the activity of both compounds; meanwhile, molecular docking and dynamics simulations demonstrate the main interactions with key proteins in the pathway, indicating putative targets. This work opens new perspectives for the discovery of bioactive compounds found in Euphorbiaceae species, especially from those occurring in Caatinga. Full article

The development of selective and sustainable catalysts is essential to enable the chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste. In this work, calcium-modified biochars derived from cocoa pod husk (CPH) and palm kernel shell (PKS) were prepared for treating a mixture of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA). The aim was to separate the mixture through the PLA methanolysis, while maintaining the PET unreacted for a potential physical recycling. Biochar was ex situ modified with calcium precursor using a value-added concentrate recovered from the hydrothermal treatment of Jatropha fruit husk. Subsequently, a pyrolysis step was further applied to convert the calcium species into CaO, which is the active phase for the methanolysis reaction. Structural, microscopic, and spectroscopic analyses revealed that the carbon matrix strongly influences the evolution and stabilization of calcium phases during pyrolysis and post-treatment. CPH-derived biochars promoted the formation of highly dispersed CaO, whereas PKS favored the growth of larger, less reactive Ca(OH)₂ domains. As a result, the CPH_Ca10 (i.e., 10% desired calcium loading based on CPH-biochar mass) catalyst exhibited superior basicity and catalytic activity, achieving near-complete PLA conversion under mild conditions (90–110 °C) depending on the system with only 2 wt.% catalyst. Importantly, under these mild conditions, PET remained chemically intact, demonstrating the process’s high selectivity and applicability to mixed bioplastic–fossil plastic streams. This study highlights a circular, low-carbon route to producing effective Ca-based catalysts from agricultural residues. It establishes a promising strategy for selective depolymerization and separation in complex plastic waste systems. Full article

Fossil fuel depletion has increased interest in renewable alternatives such as biodiesel derived from non-edible plant oils. Droplet evaporation is a key process influencing fuel–air mixing and combustion efficiency in diesel engines. In this study, the evaporation characteristics of diesel and two non-edible biofuels, Jatropha and Castor, are investigated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions representative of engine environments. The numerical model incorporates the conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy, together with the k–$\epsilon$ turbulence model and a discrete phase model to simulate droplet heating, motion, and mass transfer during evaporation. A comparative CFD analysis is performed to examine how fuel properties, ambient temperature, and droplet size affect the evaporation behaviour of diesel, Jatropha, and Castor droplets under identical engine-like conditions. The evolution of droplet diameter, temperature, velocity, and lifetime is analysed, and the applicability of the classical $D^2$-law is evaluated under different operating conditions. The results indicate that biofuel droplets generally evaporate faster than diesel droplets at lower temperatures, while evaporation trends become similar at higher temperatures. These findings provide insight into the evaporation behaviour of Jatropha and Castor fuels and their potential application in diesel engines. Full article

The use of botanical extracts derived from Jatropha spp. offers a sustainable alternative for controlling insect pests, thereby reducing reliance on synthetic chemical insecticides. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to summarize the published evidence on the insecticidal activity of these extracts. Electronic database searches were conducted to identify relevant studies evaluating Jatropha spp. botanical extracts against insect pests, including mortality, antifeedant activity, time of development, oviposition inhibition, and repellency. A random-effects meta-analysis for continuous variables with 95% confidence intervals was employed to compare treated insects against a control group. The study encompassed 77 articles, which evaluated extracts from various botanical parts of Jatropha curcas and Jatropha gossypifolia against insects from nine taxonomic orders. The results of the meta-analyses demonstrated that aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts from leaves and seeds were effective in increasing the mortality rate of treated insects. These extracts also affected the insects by prolonging development time, reducing weight gain in larvae and pupae, inhibiting oviposition, and increasing the percentage of repellency. Consequently, the foliar application of botanical extracts obtained from the leaves and seeds of J. curcas and J. gossypifolia represent a sustainable and agroecological alternative for the control of insect pests from different taxonomic orders. Full article

This research investigates the optimization of surface integrity in powder-mixed electrical discharge machining (PMEDM) through the innovative use of Jatropha biodielectric fluid enhanced with titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles. A comprehensive experimental framework was developed using design expert software (DOE) with Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to systematically analyze the machining of AISI D2 tool steel using copper electrodes. The study examined five critical process parameters, gap current (Ip), pulse-on duration (Ton), pulse-off time (Toff), gap voltage (V), and powder concentration, evaluating their combined effects on surface roughness (SR), surface crack density (SCD), and residual stress characteristics. Advanced characterization techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to analyze surface topography and subsurface microstructural changes. The optimization process successfully identified optimal machining conditions of current = 9 A, Ton = 100 µs, Toff = 10 µs, and gap voltage = 65 V, achieving exceptional surface quality with a minimum surface roughness of 3.22 µm. Remarkably, these optimized parameters resulted in crack-free surfaces with zero surface crack density and minimal residual stress values across the 2θ range of 90° to 180°. To enhance predictive capabilities, supervised machine learning algorithms were implemented to model surface roughness behavior. Comparative analysis of classification algorithms demonstrated that Support Vector Machine (SVM), k-Nearest Neighbors (kNNs), and Gaussian Naïve Bayes achieved superior performance with F1-scores of 0.88 and prediction accuracies of 90%. The integration of sustainable Jatropha biodielectric with TiO₂ nanoparticles represents a significant advancement in environmentally conscious precision machining, while the machine learning approach establishes a robust framework for intelligent process optimization and quality prediction in advanced manufacturing applications. Full article

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder associated with hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and dyslipidemia, leading to severe complications. Medicinal plants like Jatropha integerrima, known for their antioxidant and therapeutic properties, are being explored as potential alternatives for the management of diabetes. The present study aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, and antioxidant effects of the methanolic extract of Jatropha integerrima (MEJI) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats using STZ (45 mg/kg, i.p.), followed by oral treatment with MEJI (200 and 400 mg/kg) or metformin (200 mg/kg) for 21 days. Glycemic control was assessed through fasting blood glucose level (FBG), and the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), lipid profiling (TC, TG, LDL, HDL, and VLDL), and antioxidant (SOD and CAT) testing were outsourced to UNIQUE Biodiagnostics Vet. Path Lab, Parel, Maharashtra, while pancreatic histopathology was analyzed by evaluating islet morphology. Treatment with MEJI produced a dose-dependent reduction in fasting blood glucose levels. On day 21, MEJI at 200 and 400 mg/kg reduced blood glucose by 63.1% and 67.0%, respectively, compared to the diabetic control group. The standard drug showed the highest reduction (73.6%), restoring glucose levels close to normal values, compared with the diabetic control group, along with an improvement in glucose tolerance as reflected in OGTT outcomes. Moreover, the extract also favorably modulated the lipid profile by lowering TC, TG, LDL, and VLDL levels while enhancing HDL concentrations. Antioxidant enzyme activities improved notably, with significant elevations in SOD and CAT levels, indicating attenuation of oxidative stress. Furthermore, the histopathological examination of pancreatic sections revealed partial recovery of islet architecture in MEJI-treated rats, suggesting regenerative and protective effects on pancreatic β-cells. MEJI exhibited potent glucose-lowering, lipid-regulating, and antioxidant properties, along with pancreatic protection. These findings suggest that Jatropha integerrima may serve as a reservoir of bioactive compounds with promising potential for the management of diabetes. Full article

Non-toxic Jatropha curcas cake is a by-product rich in protein that can be used in the food industry. Proteolytic kinetics were used to identify and quantify its antioxidant, antidiabetic, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory, and hypocholesterolemic capacities. J. curcas cake was subjected to two systems of solid-state fermentation (SSF) hydrolysis by Pleurotus ostreatus (FPO) or Ganoderma lucidum (FGL), recording every 6 d until 24 d had passed. The maximum proteolytic capacity in FPO was reached on day 6 of the study, whereas FGL was achieved at 12 d. The FPO and FGL electrophoresis gels revealed the presence of 28 bands corresponding to peptides with molecular weights of less than 10 kDa in both systems analyzed. The highest FRAP values were obtained at 12 d for FPO and at the start of SSF for FGL. The highest antidiabetic capacity of FPO was obtained at 18 d and that of FGL at 24 d. The best antihypertensive activity obtained for FPO and FGL was observed at 6 d. FPO’s highest hypocholesterolemic activity was observed at the start of the SSF, while FGL’s was obtained at 24 d, which is the first report of the hypocholesterolemic activity of J. curcas. It should be noted that fermentation with G. lucidum outperformed fermentation with P. ostreatus, confirming its greater multi-bioactivity. The authors consider this method easy, practical, and generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for obtaining bioactive peptides. Full article

Ornamental plants in rural household gardens provide esthetic, cultural, and practical value, yet their ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological roles remain understudied. This study aimed to identify culturally significant ornamental species in Kham Toei Sub-district, Northeastern Thailand, document their multifunctional uses—including esthetic, ritual, edible, and medicinal roles—and examine how availability, perceived utility, and cultural context influence local valuations. Field surveys were conducted between June 2024 to May 2025 using purposive sampling to select 30 households, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with one primary informant per household. A total of 81 species from 36 families and 66 genera were recorded, dominated by herbaceous plants (53%), with introduced species (74%) exceeding natives (24%). Quantitative indices—Cultural Ornamental Significance Index (COSI), Fidelity Level (FL), and Informant Consensus Factor (FIC)—identified Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., Cassia fistula L., Curcuma longa L., and Zingiber officinale Roscoe as culturally important species. High FL values, such as 80.00% for Jatropha podagrica Hook. (musculoskeletal use) and Tradescantia spathacea Sw. (gastrointestinal use), along with FIC of 0.83 for eye disorders, indicate strong community agreement on therapeutic applications. These findings demonstrate that ornamental plants support household healthcare, rituals, and ecological functions, reinforcing biocultural resilience and sustaining the integration of cultural, ecological, and medicinal values in community life. Full article

In this study, the focus is on investigating the performance of Jatropha curcas biodiesel as a potentially eco-friendly and non-edible collector for use in the flotation of low-rank coal. Due to its high cost and limited efficiency, using diesel as a collector for treating low-rank coal flotation presents several challenges. To achieve this aim, a systematic approach was adopted, employing a statistical design methodology to develop comprehensive mathematical models for combustible recovery and ash content. These models considered various parameters, including the dosage of the collector and frother, the solid percentage, and the depressant. The test results indicated that both models were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the findings showed that when the collector, frother, solid percent, and depressant were set at 0.5 kg/t and 2.13 kg/t, 0.26 kg/t and 0.214 kg/t, 15.00% and 14.40%, and 0.50 kg/t and 0.51, respectively, the ash content and recovery efficiency were 11.2% and 80.08%, respectively. The results also indicated that the doses of the frother and collector had a greater impact on the response variables than the other factors. In addition, verification experiments were conducted under the ideal conditions specified by the models to assess their validity and sufficiency. The SEM-EDS results confirmed that the concentration of carbon in coal cleaned with Jatropha biodiesel was higher than that cleaned with diesel oil. Furthermore, an FT-IR investigation showed that Jatropha biodiesel was more effective than diesel oil in reducing hydrophilic groups and enhancing hydrophobic groups. The hydrogen bonding between the oxygen-containing groups in Jatropha biodiesel and the surface of low-rank coal was responsible for the improvement in floatability and flotation recovery, which means Jatropha biodiesel, could be utilized as a substitute collector in the flotation of low-rank coal. Full article

Jatropha curcas L. is a shrub of the Euphorbiaceae family with non-toxic varieties found in Mexico that holds significant potential for biofuel production and other industrial applications. However, its limited in vitro regenerative capacity is a barrier to the development of productive species. Somatic embryogenesis (SE) offers a strategy to establish a regeneration system to overcome these challenges and enable genetic improvement. In this work, proteomic and gene expression analyses were utilized to identify key factors involved in SE induction in a non-toxic variety of J. curcas. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) in combination with mass spectrometry was used to compare the proteomes of pre-globular and globular somatic embryos. RT-qPCR was used for gene expression analysis of the BBM, AGL15, SERK, IAA26 and eIF3f genes. The globular stage showed enrichment in the pathways related to carbohydrate and energy metabolism, protein folding, and stress response. In addition, the gene expression analysis of selected genes revealed a significantly elevated expression of BBM, AGL15, and IAA26 in globular embryos compared to pre-globular embryos. In contrast, SERK expression was low, and eIF3f expression remained unchanged between stages. These expression patterns may contribute to developmental arrest at the globular stage. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating early SE in J. curcas and offer potential strategies for improving its propagation and industrial applications. Full article