The Nature has given us many bounties ... some we understand of and some that are still concealed in the deep mysteries waiting to be revealed and waiting to enrich our lives. One of these bounties is jatropha curcas, the physic nut. It is among the most popular herbs and the term jatropha curcas is really a "genus" covering some 175 plants together. The name comes from Greek words for Iatros suggesting 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 day-to-day lives.
To start with, Jatropha is finding 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 utilized as fertilizer or as a feed for electricity creating plants. And this permits a sustainable advancement. Not just the seeds, however the plant as a whole is well suited to satisfy the growing ecological concerns. And why just the bio-diesel, it can be utilized as air travel fuel, car fuel and a host of other usages from other parts of the plants. The stems of this plant find uses in basket making, ornamental purposes, 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, for that reason, 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 taken care of to allow for a healthy plant development. And it has actually been observed that the jatropha curcas plants tax our water resources. So, they are grown in locations with plenty of rains. This cuts the problem on the water resources, permits water preservation and human effort too. Because the irrigation financial investment is only one time cost of time, cash, effort and resources, it is being accepted as a sustainable option worldwide.
But it is not all gift - gift about the plant. The jatropha curcas plant has harmful content. It has lectin, saponin, phorbol, toxalbumin curcin and is a trypsin inhibitor. In simple words, it can be harmful and in extreme conditions, even deadly to consume unattended plant. The seeds have to be correctly roasted and dealt with before being utilized in any consumable use. Since it has become possible to deal with the hazardous content, the plant consumption has also been rising. To meet the increasing demands, the plant has actually to be grown through numerous scientific methods like in-vitro and ex-vitro propagation. This enables rapid growth and for developing illness and bug resistant ranges of the plant. And a healthy crop will indicate more fuel and better environment on the whole.
It is in our hands to reside in harmony with the nature, and it is our choices that identify the outcome of the interaction we have with the nature. If we select environment friendly items, we improve our lives. So, picking jatropha curcas can be the initial step in enhancing the wealth called environment.