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

To begin with, jatropha curcas is finding excellent acceptance all over the world as a bio-doesel. The jatropha curcas seeds can be crushed to obtain the oil and this can be used as a bio-fuel. The residues can be used as fertilizer or as a feed for electricity generating plants. And this permits a sustainable development. Not just the seeds, however the plant as a whole is well fit to fulfill the growing environmental concerns. And why just 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 discover usages in basket making, ornamental purposes, and tanning leather and getting dyes. The plant even finds use in medications for cough, balm lotions, tooth pastes, cosmetics and is even used to produce good quality paper. The plant is, for that reason, 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 needs to be supported and looked after to enable for a healthy plant growth. And it has been observed that the jatropha curcas plants tax our water resources. So, they are grown in areas with plenty of rainfall. This cuts the burden on the water resources, permits water conservation and human effort too. Because the irrigation financial investment is just one time expenditure of time, cash, effort and resources, it is being as a sustainable option worldwide.

But it is not all gift - goodie about the plant. The jatropha curcas plant has poisonous material. It has lectin, saponin, phorbol, toxalbumin curcin and is a trypsin inhibitor. In simple words, it can be harmful and in severe conditions, even deadly to consume neglected plant. The seeds have to be effectively roasted and treated before being utilized in any consumable use. Since it has actually become feasible to deal with the poisonous material, the plant intake has also been rising. To satisfy the increasing needs, the plant has to be grown through different clinical approaches like in-vitro and ex-vitro proliferation. This enables fast development and for developing disease and bug resistant varieties of the plant. And a healthy crop will suggest more fuel and much better environment on the whole.

It is in our hands to live in harmony with the nature, and it is our choices that determine the result of the interaction we have with the nature. If we choose environment friendly products, we improve our lives. So, choosing jatropha curcas can be the very first action in enhancing the wealth called environment.