The Mother Nature has given us innumerable bounties ... some we understand of and some that are still hidden in the deep mysteries waiting to be exposed and waiting to enrich our lives. Among these bounties is jatropha curcas, the physic nut. It is one of the most popular herbs and the term Jatropha 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 usages in our daily lives.

To begin with, jatropha curcas is discovering 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 development. Not just the seeds, but the plant as a whole is well matched to fulfill the growing ecological concerns. And why just the bio-diesel, it can be utilized as air travel fuel, automobile fuel and a host of other usages 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 discovers usage in medicines for cough, balm lotions, toothpastes, cosmetics and is even used to produce great quality paper. The plant is, therefore, being put to practically every imaginable usage possible.

Though it puts the worry of having a sustainable source of energy at hands to a back burner, yet it requires to be supported and taken care of to permit a healthy plant development. And it has actually been observed that the Jatropha plants tax our water resources. So, they are grown in areas with lots of rainfall. This cuts the concern on the water resources, permits water conservation and human effort too. Because the irrigation financial investment is only one time cost of time, money, effort and resources, it is being accepted as a sustainable option worldwide.

But it is not all goodie - gift about the plant. The Jatropha plant has hazardous content. It has lectin, saponin, phorbol, toxalbumin curcin and is a trypsin inhibitor. In basic words, it can be hazardous and in extreme conditions, even deadly to take in neglected plant. The seeds need to be appropriately roasted and treated before being used in any consumable usage. Since it has become practical to deal with the hazardous content, the plant consumption has actually also been increasing. To meet the increasing demands, the plant needs to be grown through different clinical techniques like in-vitro and ex-vitro propagation. This enables rapid development and for developing illness and pest resistant ranges of the plant. And a healthy crop will mean more fuel and much better environment on the whole.

It remains in our hands to reside in consistency with the nature, and it is our options that determine the outcome of the interaction we have with the nature. If we choose environment friendly products, we improve our lives. So, selecting Jatropha can be the primary step in improving the wealth called environment.