The seeds of _Jatropha platyphylla_, available on the pacific coast from Sinaloa to Michoacán including the Nayarit and Jalisco states in Mexico, are consumed by local communities after roasting them in a manner similar to that used for peanuts. The kernels and kernel meal of _J. platyphylla_ were found to be free of phorbol esters but the kernel meal contained antinutritional factors: trypsin inhibitor, lectins and phytate at levels similar to those in _J. curcas_ kernel meal. However, trypsin inhibitor and lectins are heat labile so this explains why the local people can eat roasted seeds without ill effect. The fatty acid profile of _J. platyphylla_ oil was similar to that of _J. curcas_ and the kernels of both these species contained _ca_ 58%... |