The Nature has actually given us countless bounties … some we understand of and some that are still hidden in the deep mysteries waiting to be revealed and waiting to enhance our lives. Among these bounties is jatropha curcas, the physic nut. It is one of the most popular herbs and the term jatropha curcas is actually a “genus” covering some 175 plants together. The name comes from Greek words for Iatros implying doctor and trophe meaning nutrition. So physic nuts or jatropha curcas, from the kingdom plantae is being studied extensively for it can be put to numerous uses in our every day lives.

To start with, Jatropha is finding terrific acceptance all over the world as a bio-doesel. The jatropha curcas seeds can be crushed to obtain the oil and this can be utilized as a bio-fuel. The residues can be utilized as fertilizer or as a feed for electrical power generating plants. And this permits a sustainable advancement. Not just the seeds, but the plant as a whole is well fit to meet the growing ecological issues. And why just the bio-diesel, it can be utilized as aviation fuel, auto fuel and a host of other uses from other parts of the plants. The stems of this plant find uses in basket making, ornamental functions, and tanning leather and acquiring dyes. The plant even finds usage in medicines for cough, balm ointments, toothpastes, cosmetics and is even used to produce excellent quality paper. The plant is, therefore, being put to nearly every imaginable usage possible.

Though it puts the concern of having a renewable source of energy at hands to a back burner, yet it needs to be supported and taken care of to enable a healthy plant development. And it has been observed that the jatropha curcas plants tax our water resources. So, they are grown in areas with lots of rains. This cuts the burden on the water resources, enables water preservation and human effort too. Because the irrigation investment is just one time cost of time, money, effort and resources, it is being accepted as a sustainable option worldwide.

But it is not all gift - goodie about the plant. The Jatropha plant has harmful content. It has lectin, saponin, phorbol, toxalbumin curcin and is a trypsin inhibitor. In easy words, it can be damaging and in severe conditions, even deadly to take in without treatment plant. The seeds have to be properly roasted and treated before being used in any consumable usage. Since it has actually ended up being practical to deal with the poisonous material, the plant usage has actually also been increasing. To satisfy the increasing demands, the plant needs to be grown through various scientific methods like in-vitro and ex-vitro propagation. This allows for quick growth and for establishing illness and insect resistant ranges of the plant. And a healthy crop will indicate more fuel and much better environment on the whole.

It remains in our hands to reside in harmony with the nature, and it is our options that identify the outcome of the interaction we have with the nature. If we pick environment items, we enrich our lives. So, choosing jatropha curcas can be the initial step in improving the wealth called environment.