The Nature has actually provided us countless bounties … some we understand of and some that are still hidden in the deep secrets waiting to be revealed and waiting to enhance our lives. One of these bounties is Jatropha, the physic nut. It is among the most popular herbs and the term jatropha curcas is in fact a “genus” covering some 175 plants together. The name originates from Greek words for Iatros meaning 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 everyday lives.

To start with, jatropha curcas is discovering great acceptance all over the world as a bio-doesel. The jatropha curcas seeds can be squashed to get the oil and this can be utilized as a bio-fuel. The residues can be used as fertilizer or as a feed for electricity creating plants. And this a sustainable development. Not simply the seeds, but the plant as a whole is well matched to meet the growing environmental concerns. And why just the bio-diesel, it can be used as air travel fuel, automobile fuel and a host of other uses from other parts of the plants. The stems of this plant find usages in basket making, decorative purposes, and tanning leather and acquiring dyes. The plant even finds use in medicines for cough, balm lotions, toothpastes, cosmetics and is even used to produce great quality paper. The plant is, for that reason, being put to almost every conceivable usage possible.

Though it puts the worry of having a sustainable source of energy at hands to a back burner, yet it requires to be nurtured and cared for to allow for a healthy plant growth. And it has actually been observed that the Jatropha plants tax our water resources. So, they are grown in locations with plenty of rainfall. This cuts the burden on the water resources, allows water preservation and human effort too. Because the irrigation investment is only one time expense of time, cash, effort and resources, it is being accepted as a sustainable alternative worldwide.

But it is not all goodie - gift about the plant. The jatropha curcas plant has poisonous content. It has lectin, saponin, phorbol, toxalbumin curcin and is a trypsin inhibitor. In easy words, it can be damaging and in extreme conditions, even fatal to consume unattended plant. The seeds have to be appropriately roasted and dealt with before being utilized in any consumable usage. Since it has become practical to deal with the hazardous material, the plant intake has actually also been rising. To satisfy the increasing demands, the plant has to be grown through numerous scientific methods like in-vitro and ex-vitro proliferation. This enables rapid growth and for establishing illness and insect resistant varieties of the plant. And a healthy crop will suggest 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 choices that determine the outcome of the interaction we have with the nature. If we select environment friendly products, we enhance our lives. So, picking jatropha curcas can be the first step in enhancing the wealth called environment.