The Mother Nature has given us innumerable bounties ... some we understand of and some that are still hidden in the deep secrets waiting to be exposed and waiting to improve our lives. Among 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 physician and trophe significance nutrition. So physic nuts or jatropha curcas, from the kingdom plantae is being studied widely for it can be put to numerous uses in our day-to-day lives.
To start with, jatropha curcas is discovering excellent approval all over the world as a bio-doesel. The jatropha curcas seeds can be crushed 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 power creating plants. And this permits a sustainable development. Not just the seeds, however the plant as a whole is well fit to satisfy the growing environmental issues. And why just the bio-diesel, it can be used as aviation fuel, vehicle 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 discovers usage in medications for cough, balm ointments, toothpastes, cosmetics and is even used to produce good quality paper. The plant is, therefore, being put to almost every thinkable usage possible.
Though it puts the worry of having a renewable source of energy at hands to a back burner, yet it requires to be nurtured and looked after to enable for 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 plenty of rains. This cuts the concern on the water resources, enables water conservation and human effort too. Because the watering financial investment is just one time cost of time, cash, effort and resources, it is being accepted as a sustainable choice worldwide.
But it is not all goodie - gift about the plant. The jatropha curcas plant has toxic content. It has lectin, saponin, phorbol, toxalbumin curcin and is a trypsin inhibitor. In basic words, it can be hazardous and in severe conditions, even fatal to take in unattended plant. The seeds need to be appropriately roasted and treated before being used in any consumable use. Since it has ended up being possible to treat the hazardous content, the plant consumption has likewise been increasing. To satisfy the increasing needs, the plant has actually to be grown through various clinical methods like in-vitro and ex-vitro propagation. This allows for rapid development and for establishing illness and pest resistant ranges of the plant. And a healthy crop will suggest more fuel and much better environment on the whole.
It remains in our hands to live in consistency 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 items, we enhance our lives. So, selecting jatropha curcas can be the initial step in improving the wealth called environment.