The Mother Nature has given us numerous bounties ... some we understand of and some that are still concealed in the deep secrets waiting to be revealed and waiting to enhance our lives. One of these bounties is jatropha curcas, the physic nut. It is one of the most popular herbs and the term Jatropha is in fact a "genus" covering some 175 plants together. The name comes from Greek words for Iatros indicating physician and trophe meaning nutrition. So physic nuts or jatropha curcas, from the kingdom plantae is being studied extensively for it can be put to many usages in our lives.

To start with, jatropha curcas is discovering fantastic acceptance all over the world as a bio-doesel. The jatropha curcas seeds can be crushed to obtain the oil and this can be utilized 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, but the plant as a whole is well fit to satisfy the growing environmental issues. And why simply the bio-diesel, it can be utilized as aviation fuel, auto fuel and a host of other uses from other parts of the plants. The stems of this plant find uses in basket making, decorative functions, and tanning leather and getting dyes. The plant even finds use in medications for cough, balm lotions, toothpastes, cosmetics and is even used to produce great quality paper. The plant is, therefore, being put to nearly every credible usage possible.

Though it puts the worry of having an eco-friendly source of energy at hands to a back burner, yet it needs to be nurtured and looked after to permit a healthy plant growth. And it has actually been that the Jatropha plants tax our water resources. So, they are grown in areas with lots of rainfall. This cuts the problem on the water resources, permits water preservation and human effort too. Because the irrigation investment is just one time cost of time, money, effort and resources, it is being accepted as a sustainable option worldwide.

But it is not all goodie - goodie about the plant. The jatropha curcas plant has hazardous material. It has lectin, saponin, phorbol, toxalbumin curcin and is a trypsin inhibitor. In basic words, it can be damaging and in severe conditions, even fatal to consume without treatment plant. The seeds need to be appropriately roasted and treated before being used in any consumable use. Since it has actually become feasible to deal with the harmful material, the plant consumption has likewise been increasing. To satisfy the increasing needs, the plant has actually to be grown through various clinical approaches like in-vitro and ex-vitro proliferation. This permits fast development and for establishing illness and insect resistant ranges of the plant. And a healthy crop will mean more fuel and better environment on the whole.

It is in our hands to live in harmony with the nature, and it is our options that identify the outcome of the interaction we have with the nature. If we select environment friendly products, we enrich our lives. So, choosing Jatropha can be the first step in enhancing the wealth called environment.