Protein concentrate from Jatropha curcas screw-pressed seed cake and toxic and antinutritional factors in protein concentrate

BACKGROUND: Jatropha curcas seeds are highly toxic to livestock. The presence of phorbol esters and antinutrients such as trypsin inhibitor, lectin and phytate and the high level of shells in the seed cake prevent its use in animal diets. Using the principle of isoelectric precipitation, the conditions for preparation of the protein concentrate from oil-containing seed cake and defatted seed cake were optimised and the contents of phorbol esters and antinutrients were determined. RESULTS: The recovery of protein concentrate was highest when the proteins from the seed cakes were solubilised at pH 11 for 1 h at 60 degrees C and the precipitation of these proteins was done by lowering the pH to 4. Under these conditions, over 53% of the total proteins present in the seed cakes were recovered in the protein concentrates. The protein contents in the protein concentrates obtained from the oil-containing seed cake and defatted seed cake were 760 and 820 g kg(-1) respectively. Substantial amounts of phorbol esters were present in the protein concentrates (0.86-1.48 mg g(-1)). Trypsin inhibitor was present at an approximately tenfold higher level in the protein concentrates than in the seed cakes. Lectin and phytate were also present at high levels, but their levels were lower than in the seed cakes. Tannins were present in negligible amounts. CONCLUSION: To make the protein concentrate from Jatropha seed cake fit for use as an ingredient in livestock feed, phorbol esters must be removed and trypsin inhibitor and lectin inactivated by heat treatment. The adverse effects of phytate could be mitigated by addition of phytase in the diet. (c) 2008 Society of Chemical Industry.