The Mother Nature has given us innumerable bounties ... some we understand of and some that are still hidden in the 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 is in fact a "genus" covering some 175 plants together. The name comes from Greek words for Iatros implying physician and trophe significance 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 every day lives.

To begin with, Jatropha is discovering terrific approval all over the world as a bio-doesel. The jatropha curcas seeds can be crushed to obtain 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 enables for a sustainable advancement. Not just the seeds, however the plant as a whole is well suited to satisfy the growing environmental concerns. And why just the bio-diesel, it can be used as air travel fuel, car fuel and a host of other usages from other parts of the plants. The stems of this plant find usages in basket making, decorative purposes, and tanning leather and obtaining dyes. The plant even finds usage in medicines for cough, balm ointments, toothpastes, cosmetics and is even utilized to produce excellent quality paper. The plant is, for that reason, being put to almost every conceivable use possible.

Though it puts the concern 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 lots of rains. This cuts the burden on the water resources, enables water preservation and human effort too. Because the watering investment is just one time cost of time, cash, effort and resources, it is being accepted as a sustainable alternative worldwide.

But it is not all gift - gift about the plant. The jatropha curcas plant has toxic content. It has lectin, saponin, phorbol, toxalbumin curcin and is a trypsin inhibitor. In easy words, it can be harmful and in severe conditions, even deadly to consume untreated plant. The seeds have to be properly roasted and treated before being used in any consumable use. Since it has become feasible to deal with the hazardous material, the plant intake has also been increasing. To fulfill the increasing needs, the plant needs to be grown through various clinical approaches like in-vitro and ex-vitro proliferation. This enables quick growth and for developing illness and insect resistant varieties of the plant. And a healthy crop will mean more fuel and better environment on the whole.

It is in our hands to reside in consistency with the nature, and it is our choices that figure out the outcome of the interaction we have with the nature. If we select environment friendly items, we enrich our lives. So, picking Jatropha can be the initial step in improving the wealth called environment.