The Nature has actually provided us countless bounties ... some we know of and some that are still concealed in the deep mysteries waiting to be exposed and waiting to improve our lives. One of 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 suggesting physician and trophe meaning nutrition. So physic nuts or jatropha curcas, from the kingdom plantae is being studied widely for it can be put to many usages 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 squashed to acquire the oil and this can be used as a bio-fuel. The residues can be utilized as fertilizer or as a feed for electrical energy producing plants. And this enables a sustainable advancement. Not simply the seeds, but the plant as a whole is well matched to fulfill the growing environmental concerns. And why just the bio-diesel, it can be used as aviation fuel, automobile fuel and a host of other uses from other parts of the plants. The stems of this plant discover usages in basket making, ornamental purposes, and tanning leather and obtaining dyes. The plant even discovers use in medications for cough, balm ointments, toothpastes, cosmetics and is even utilized to produce great quality paper. The plant is, therefore, being put to practically every thinkable use possible.
Though it puts the concern of having a renewable source of energy at hands to a back burner, yet it requires to be nurtured and taken care of to permit 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 rains. This cuts the burden on the water resources, enables water preservation and human effort too. Because the irrigation 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 - goodie about the plant. The jatropha curcas plant has toxic material. It has lectin, saponin, phorbol, toxalbumin curcin and is a trypsin inhibitor. In simple words, it can be harmful and in severe conditions, even fatal to consume unattended plant. The seeds need to be appropriately roasted and treated before being used in any consumable usage. Since it has become feasible to treat the hazardous material, the plant intake has actually likewise been rising. To meet the increasing needs, the plant has to be grown through different clinical techniques like in-vitro and ex-vitro propagation. This permits fast development and for establishing illness and insect 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 options that identify the outcome of the interaction we have with the nature. If we pick environment friendly products, we enhance our lives. So, picking Jatropha can be the first step in improving the wealth called environment.