The Nature has given us countless bounties ... some we know of and some that are still hidden in the deep secrets waiting to be exposed and waiting to enhance our lives. Among these bounties is jatropha curcas, the physic nut. It is one of 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 indicating 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 lots of usages in our lives.

To begin with, jatropha curcas is discovering excellent approval all over the world as a bio-doesel. The jatropha curcas seeds can be crushed to get the oil and this can be used as a bio-fuel. The residues can be used as fertilizer or as a feed for electrical power generating plants. And this enables a sustainable development. Not just the seeds, however the plant as a whole is well suited to fulfill the growing ecological concerns. And why simply 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 uses in basket making, ornamental purposes, and tanning leather and obtaining dyes. The plant even finds use in medicines for cough, balm lotions, toothpastes, cosmetics and is even used to produce excellent quality paper. The plant is, therefore, being put to almost every conceivable use possible.

Though it puts the concern of having an eco-friendly source of energy at hands to a back burner, yet it needs to be supported and taken care of to permit a healthy plant development. And it has been observed that the Jatropha plants tax our water resources. So, they are grown in locations with a lot of rainfall. This cuts the concern on the water resources, allows water conservation and human effort too. Because the watering investment is only one time expenditure of time, money, effort and resources, it is being accepted as a sustainable choice worldwide.

But it is not all gift - goodie about the plant. The jatropha curcas plant has harmful 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 fatal to consume untreated plant. The seeds have to be correctly roasted and dealt with before being utilized in any consumable usage. Since it has actually become feasible to deal with the harmful content, the plant intake has also been increasing. To satisfy the increasing demands, the plant has to be grown through different clinical approaches like in-vitro and ex-vitro propagation. This permits quick development and for establishing illness and bug resistant varieties of the plant. And a healthy crop will suggest more fuel and better environment on the whole.

It is in our hands to live in consistency with the nature, and it is our choices that determine the result of the interaction we have with the nature. If we pick environment friendly products, we enrich our lives. So, selecting Jatropha can be the initial step in improving the wealth called environment.