The Nature has offered us countless bounties … some we know 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 in fact a “genus” covering some 175 plants together. The name comes from Greek words for Iatros meaning doctor and trophe meaning nutrition. So physic nuts or Jatropha, from the kingdom plantae is being studied widely for it can be put to many uses in our every day lives.

To start with, jatropha curcas is discovering great approval all over the world as a bio-doesel. The jatropha curcas seeds can be crushed to the oil and this can be used as a bio-fuel. The residues can be used as fertilizer or as a feed for electrical power producing plants. And this enables a sustainable development. Not just the seeds, however the plant as a whole is well matched to fulfill the growing ecological concerns. And why simply the bio-diesel, it can be utilized as air travel fuel, vehicle fuel and a host of other uses from other parts of the plants. The stems of this plant find usages in basket making, ornamental functions, and tanning leather and acquiring dyes. The plant even discovers use in medicines for cough, balm lotions, tooth pastes, cosmetics and is even used to produce excellent quality paper. The plant is, therefore, being put to nearly every thinkable use possible.

Though it puts the worry of having a sustainable source of energy at hands to a back burner, yet it needs to be supported and looked after to permit a healthy plant growth. And it has actually been observed that the jatropha curcas plants tax our water resources. So, they are grown in locations with a lot of rains. This cuts the burden on the water resources, permits water conservation and human effort too. Because the watering investment is only one time expense of time, money, effort and resources, it is being accepted as a sustainable alternative worldwide.

But it is not all goodie - gift about the plant. The Jatropha plant has harmful content. It has lectin, saponin, phorbol, toxalbumin curcin and is a trypsin inhibitor. In basic words, it can be damaging and in severe conditions, even deadly to take in without treatment plant. The seeds have to be appropriately roasted and dealt with before being used in any consumable use. Since it has become possible to treat the hazardous material, the plant usage has actually also been rising. To satisfy the increasing needs, the plant has to be grown through numerous scientific approaches like in-vitro and ex-vitro propagation. This permits fast development and for establishing illness and pest resistant varieties of the plant. And a healthy crop will suggest more fuel and better environment on the whole.

It remains 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 choose environment friendly products, we enhance our lives. So, choosing Jatropha can be the primary step in enhancing the wealth called environment.