The Mother Nature has actually provided us numerous bounties ... some we understand of and some that are still concealed in the deep mysteries waiting to be revealed and waiting to improve our lives. One of these bounties is Jatropha, the physic nut. It is among the most popular herbs and the term Jatropha is in fact a “genus” covering some 175 plants together. The name originates from Greek words for Iatros indicating doctor and trophe meaning nutrition. So physic nuts or jatropha curcas, from the kingdom plantae is being studied commonly for it can be put to numerous uses in our every day lives.

To begin with, jatropha curcas is discovering excellent approval all over the world as a bio-doesel. The Jatropha seeds can be crushed to acquire 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 producing plants. And this permits a sustainable development. Not just the seeds, but the plant as a whole is well matched to meet the growing ecological issues. And why simply the bio-diesel, it can be used as aviation fuel, car fuel and a host of other usages from other parts of the plants. The stems of this plant find usages in basket making, decorative functions, and tanning leather and obtaining dyes. The plant even finds use in medicines for cough, balm ointments, toothpastes, cosmetics and is even utilized to produce good quality paper. The plant is, therefore, being put to practically every imaginable use possible.

Though it puts the worry 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 for a healthy plant growth. And it has been observed that the jatropha curcas plants tax our water resources. So, they are grown in locations with a lot of rainfall. This cuts the concern on the water resources, allows water preservation and human effort too. Because the watering financial investment is just one time expenditure of time, cash, effort and resources, it is being as a sustainable choice worldwide.

But it is not all goodie - goodie about the plant. The jatropha curcas plant has harmful material. It has lectin, saponin, phorbol, toxalbumin curcin and is a trypsin inhibitor. In basic words, it can be harmful and in extreme conditions, even fatal to consume neglected plant. The seeds have to be appropriately roasted and treated before being utilized in any consumable use. Since it has become practical to treat the harmful content, the plant intake has actually also been increasing. To meet the increasing needs, the plant needs to be grown through numerous clinical methods like in-vitro and ex-vitro propagation. This enables quick growth and for developing illness and pest resistant varieties of the plant. And a healthy crop will imply more fuel and better environment on the whole.

It is in our hands to reside in consistency with the nature, and it is our choices that identify the result of the interaction we have with the nature. If we select environment friendly items, we enrich our lives. So, selecting Jatropha can be the initial step in enhancing the wealth called environment.