Phytochemical Characterisation of Euphorbia Cotinifolia and Its Suitability as Biodiesel

Abstract

newlineThe latex bearing plant i.e. Euphorbia cotinifolia was evaluated as potential renewable source newlineof energy and chemicals. The aim of this work was to carry out physico-chemical analysis of newlineE. cotinifolia and find out relevant hydrocarbons by spectroscopic studies. The extractable newlinematerial from E. cotinifolia was estimated qualitatively and quantitatively. The biocrude newlinecomposition of E. cotinifolia was also assessed by various methods and standard procedures. newlineProximate analysis and physico-chemical analysis of oil rich fraction derived from E. newlinecotinifolia and biodiesel were thereof carried out. Physico- chemical characterization of ORF newlinelike moisture content, ash content, iodine value, acid value and peroxide values were newlinecomparable with Jatropha curcas and ASTM standards. Alkaline transesterification of ORF newlineof E. cotinifolia was carried out. TLC s of ORF and biodiesel were done. Spectroscopic newlinestudies confirmed the presence of aliphatic chains of hydrocarbons, alcohols, fatty acids in newlineORF and biodiesel of E. cotinifolia. The presences of Hexadecane, 10-Heneicosene, newlineOctadecane and phytol diterpenes were confirmed. In bioinformatics, DGAT 1, Squalene newlinesynthase and Casbene synthase role in fatty acid biosynthesis pathway was studied. Squalene newlinesynthase is a membrane bound enzyme. It is involved in biosynthesis of sterols and other newlinetriterpenoids and sesquiterpenes. In silico comparison of protein sequences of DGAT 1 genes newlineresponsible for triacyglcerol biosynthesis across various members of energy crops was done newlineby taking DGAT 1 protein sequence of Jatropha sp. as a reference. Casbene is a macrocyclic newlinediterpene hydrocarbon that is found in many Euphorbiaceae families (Ricinus communis). newlineCasbene synthase is an enzyme participating in biosynthesis of isoprenoid. Casbene synthase newlinecatalyzes the cyclization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) to monocyclic diterpene, newlinecasbene (CPP). Macrocyclic diterpenoids are synthesized like lathyrane, tigilane from newlinecasbene through several steps. Bioinformatics is a constructive tool to identify the metabolic newlinefunctions of unfamiliar plant genes once the completed genomes of the plant are obtained.