The Nature has actually given us many 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. One of these bounties is Jatropha, the physic nut. It is one of the most popular herbs and the term jatropha curcas is really a "genus" some 175 plants together. The name originates from Greek words for Iatros implying doctor and trophe significance nutrition. So physic nuts or Jatropha, from the kingdom plantae is being studied extensively for it can be put to lots of usages in our everyday lives.

To begin with, jatropha curcas is discovering excellent acceptance all over the world as a bio-doesel. The Jatropha seeds can be crushed 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 electrical power creating plants. And this permits for a sustainable development. Not just the seeds, however the plant as a whole is well fit to fulfill the growing ecological concerns. And why simply the bio-diesel, it can be used as aviation fuel, auto fuel and a host of other usages from other parts of the plants. The stems of this plant find usages in basket making, decorative functions, and tanning leather and obtaining dyes. The plant even discovers use in medicines for cough, balm ointments, 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 concern of having a renewable source of energy at hands to a back burner, yet it needs to be nurtured and cared for to enable a healthy plant growth. And it has actually been observed that the Jatropha plants tax our water resources. So, they are grown in areas with plenty of rains. This cuts the burden on the water resources, enables water conservation and human effort too. Because the irrigation investment is only one time cost of time, money, 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 poisonous material. It has lectin, saponin, phorbol, toxalbumin curcin and is a trypsin inhibitor. In simple words, it can be hazardous and in severe conditions, even deadly to consume unattended plant. The seeds have to be correctly roasted and treated before being used in any consumable use. Since it has actually become possible to deal with the harmful material, the plant consumption has actually likewise been increasing. To fulfill the increasing needs, the plant has to be grown through various scientific approaches like in-vitro and ex-vitro propagation. This enables for fast development and for establishing disease and pest resistant varieties of the plant. And a healthy crop will mean more fuel and better environment on the whole.

It remains 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 choose environment friendly items, we enrich our lives. So, picking Jatropha can be the very first step in enhancing the wealth called environment.