The Mother Nature has actually given us numerous bounties ... some we know of and some that are still hidden in the deep mysteries waiting to be exposed and waiting to enhance our lives. Among these bounties is jatropha curcas, the physic nut. It is among the most popular herbs and the term Jatropha is actually a "genus" covering some 175 plants together. The name comes from Greek words for Iatros meaning doctor and trophe significance nutrition. So physic nuts or Jatropha, from the kingdom plantae is being studied commonly for it can be put to lots of uses in our everyday lives.
To begin with, jatropha curcas is discovering great acceptance all over the world as a bio-doesel. The Jatropha seeds can be crushed to obtain the oil and this can be utilized as a bio-fuel. The residues can be utilized as fertilizer or as a feed for electrical energy generating plants. And this enables a sustainable development. Not simply the seeds, however the plant as a whole is well suited to meet the growing environmental issues. And why simply the bio-diesel, it can be utilized as aviation fuel, automobile fuel and a host of other uses from other parts of the plants. The stems of this plant find usages in basket making, ornamental purposes, and tanning leather and getting dyes. The plant even finds usage in medicines for cough, balm ointments, tooth pastes, cosmetics and is even utilized to produce excellent quality paper. The plant is, therefore, being put to practically every imaginable usage 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 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 concern on the water resources, permits water conservation and human effort too. Because the watering 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 - goodie about the plant. The Jatropha plant has hazardous content. It has lectin, saponin, phorbol, toxalbumin curcin and is a trypsin inhibitor. In easy words, it can be damaging and in severe conditions, even fatal to take in without treatment plant. The seeds need to be effectively roasted and treated before being utilized in any consumable usage. Since it has become possible to treat the hazardous content, the plant consumption has also been rising. To fulfill the increasing demands, the plant has to be grown through various scientific techniques like in-vitro and ex-vitro proliferation. This permits for rapid growth and for developing disease and pest resistant ranges of the plant. And a healthy crop will imply more fuel and better environment on the whole.
It is 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 pick environment friendly products, we improve our lives. So, picking Jatropha can be the primary step in improving the wealth called environment.