The Mother Nature has actually provided 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. Among these bounties is Jatropha, the physic nut. It is among the most popular herbs and the is actually a "genus" covering some 175 plants together. The name originates from Greek words for Iatros implying physician and trophe meaning nutrition. So physic nuts or jatropha curcas, from the kingdom plantae is being studied widely for it can be put to many usages in our lives.

To start with, jatropha curcas is finding great approval all over the world as a bio-doesel. The jatropha curcas seeds can be squashed to get the oil and this can be used as a bio-fuel. The residues can be utilized as fertilizer or as a feed for electrical energy creating plants. And this enables a sustainable development. Not simply the seeds, however the plant as a whole is well suited to satisfy the growing ecological concerns. And why just the bio-diesel, it can be utilized as air travel 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, ornamental purposes, and tanning leather and acquiring dyes. The plant even finds use in medicines for cough, balm ointments, tooth pastes, cosmetics and is even utilized to produce good quality paper. The plant is, therefore, being put to almost every conceivable use possible.

Though it puts the worry of having a sustainable source of energy at hands to a back burner, yet it needs to be nurtured and taken care of to permit for a healthy plant growth. And it has been observed that the jatropha curcas plants tax our water resources. So, they are grown in locations with plenty of rainfall. This cuts the burden on the water resources, allows water preservation and human effort too. Because the irrigation financial investment is only one time expense 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 curcas plant has harmful 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 deadly to consume unattended plant. The seeds need to be effectively roasted and treated before being utilized in any consumable usage. Since it has actually become possible to deal with the toxic content, the plant consumption has also been rising. To satisfy the increasing demands, the plant has to be grown through different scientific techniques like in-vitro and ex-vitro propagation. This enables fast development and for establishing disease and insect resistant ranges of the plant. And a healthy crop will mean more fuel and much better environment on the whole.

It is in our hands to reside in harmony with the nature, and it is our choices that figure out the outcome of the interaction we have with the nature. If we choose environment friendly products, we enrich our lives. So, choosing Jatropha can be the initial step in enhancing the wealth called environment.