INTRODUCTION
Jatropha is a genus of approximately 175 succulent plants, shrubs and trees . Jatropha contains compounds that are highly toxic.It is resistant to drought and pests, and produces seeds containing 27-40% oil, averaging 34.4%.The remaining press cake of jatropha seeds after oil extraction could also be considered for energy production.
TOXICITY
Jatropha plants contain several toxic compounds, including lectin, saponin, carcinogenic phorbol, and a trypsin inhibitor. The seeds of this genus are also a source of the highly poisonous toxalbumin curcin.
USES OF JATROPHA
Medicinal plant
• The latex of Jatropha contains an alkaloid known as "jatrophine" which is believed to have anti-cancerous properties. It is also used as an external application for skin diseases and rheumatism and for sores on domestic livestock. In additon, the tender twigs of the plant are used for cleaning teeth, while the juice of the leaf is used as an external application for piles. Finally, the roots are reported to be used as an antidote for snake-bites.
Raw material for dye
• The bark of Jatropha curcas yields a dark blue dye which is used for colouring cloth, fishing nets and lines.
Soil enrichment
• Jatropha oil cake is rich in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium and can be used as organic manure.
Feed
• Jatropha leaves are used as food for the tusser silkworm. Antimicrobialactivity • the ether extract shows antibiotic activity against Styphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
Alternative to diesel
• It is significant to point out that, the non-edible vegetable oil of Jatropha curcas has the requisite potential of providing a promising and commercially viable alternative to diesel oil since it has desirable physicochemical and performance characteristics comparable to diesel. Cars could be run with Jatropha curcas without requiring much change in design.
BOTANICAL FEATURES
• Leaves: large green to pale-green leaves.
• Flowers: male and female flowers are produced on the same inflorescence, averaging 20 male flowers to each female flower, or 10 male flowers to each female flower.
• Fruits : fruits are produced in winter, or there may be several crops during the year if soil moisture is good and temperatures are sufficiently high.
• Seeds: the seeds are mature when the capsule changes from green to yellow.
CULTIVATION
Jatropha curcas grows in tropical and subtropical regions. The plant can grow in wastelands and grows on almost any terrain, even on gravelly, sandy and saline soils. It can thrive in poor and stony soils, although new research suggests that the plant's ability to adapt to these poor soils is not as extensive as had been previously stated. Complete germination is achieved within 9 days. Adding manure during the germination has negative effects during that phase, but is favorable if applied after germination is achieved. It can be propagated by cuttings, which yields faster results than multiplication by seeds. Jatropha curcas thrives on a mere 250 mm (10 in) of rain a year, and only during its first two years does it need to be watered in the closing days of the dry season. Ploughing and planting are not needed regularly, as this shrub has a life expectancy of approximately forty years. The use of pesticides is not necessary, due to the pesticidal and fungicidal properties of the plant. It is used in rural Bengal for dhobi itch a fungal infection. While Jatropha curcas starts yielding from 9–12 months time, the best yields are obtained only after 2 – 3 years time.
MEDICINAL VALUE OF PLANT
Jatropha curcas is a drought resistant, perennial plant that grows even in the marginal and poor soil. Raising Jatropha is easy and it keeps producing seeds for many years. In the recent years, Jatropha has become famous primarily for the production of biodiesel. Jatropha has been also used as traditional folk medicine in many countries. Jatropha Curcas is a source of several secondary metabolites of medicinal importance. The leaf, fruits, latex and bark contain glycosides, tannins, phytosterols, flavonoids and steroidal sapogenins that exhibit wide ranging medicinal properties. Commercial exploitation for biopharmaceuticals is one of the prospective future potential of this plant. Flavonoids Flavonoids are phenolic compounds that are involved in plant-plant interactions (allelopathy, inhibition of germination and growth). Glycosides These glycosides reject hydrogen cyanide when the plants are damaged. Glycosides are synthesized from amino acids. Tannins Tannins are substances present mainly in the peel. These are polymers (polyphenols). They are, after coagulation, very stable compounds with proteins. Tannins have the main effect for the plants, making them less digestible. The free phenolic acids in the cell cytoplasm prevents digestion by herbivores (mainly insects and their larvae, caterpillars mainly), of plant tissue by blocking their digestive enzymes. Sapogenins The saponins are substances whose particularity is to lather with water. These substances, slightly caustic and irritating, possibly toxic, make plants that contain them absolutely inedible.
MULTIPLE USES
Jatropha Latex The latex of Jatropha contains alkaloids including Jatrophine, Jatropham and curcain with anti-cancerous properties. The white latex serves as a disinfectant in mouth infections in children. It is also used externally against skin diseases, piles and sores among the domestic livestock. Jatropha leaves The leaves contain apigenin, vitexin and isovitexin, etc which along with other factors enable them to be used against malaria, rheumatic and muscular pains.Moreover antibiotic activity of Jatropha has been observed against organisms including Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The juice of the leaf is used as an external application for piles. Jatropha Roots The roots are known to contain an antidote against snake venom. Venezuelans take the root decoction for dysentery Root is used in decoction as a mouthwash for bleeding gums and toothache. Otherwise used for eczema, ringworm, and scabies. Jatropha Oil The seed oil can be applied to treat eczema and skin diseases and to soothe rheumatic pain. The 36% linoleic acid (C18:2) content in Jatropha kernel oil is of possible interest for skincare industry. Jatropha Seed The seeds of the plant are not only a source of biodiesel but also contain several metabolites of pharmaceutical importance.Seeds are used also for dropsy, gout, paralysis, and skin. Leaves The young leaves may be safely eaten, steamed or stewed. Cooked with goat meat, they are said to advantageously counteract its smell. Pounded leaves are applied near horses' eyes to repel flies in India. HCN (Hydrogen cyanide) is present in the leaves.The extracts of the plants are dangerous to use but water can easily release it over if not too much extract is applied. Flowers The species is listed as a honey plant. HCN is present. Nuts HCN is present. Used as a contraceptive in South Sudan. Roots Their ashes are used as a salt substitute. HCN and Rotenone are present. Bark Used as a fish poison. HCN is present. Latex Strongly inhibits the watermelon mosaic virus. Sap It stains linen. Sometimes used for marking. Shrub Shrub as a host for the lac insect, which is used in medicine as hepatoprotective and antiobesity drug.
Jatropha is a genus of approximately 175 succulent plants, shrubs and trees . Jatropha contains compounds that are highly toxic.It is resistant to drought and pests, and produces seeds containing 27-40% oil, averaging 34.4%.The remaining press cake of jatropha seeds after oil extraction could also be considered for energy production.
TOXICITY
Jatropha plants contain several toxic compounds, including lectin, saponin, carcinogenic phorbol, and a trypsin inhibitor. The seeds of this genus are also a source of the highly poisonous toxalbumin curcin.
USES OF JATROPHA
Medicinal plant
• The latex of Jatropha contains an alkaloid known as "jatrophine" which is believed to have anti-cancerous properties. It is also used as an external application for skin diseases and rheumatism and for sores on domestic livestock. In additon, the tender twigs of the plant are used for cleaning teeth, while the juice of the leaf is used as an external application for piles. Finally, the roots are reported to be used as an antidote for snake-bites.
Raw material for dye
• The bark of Jatropha curcas yields a dark blue dye which is used for colouring cloth, fishing nets and lines.
Soil enrichment
• Jatropha oil cake is rich in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium and can be used as organic manure.
Feed
• Jatropha leaves are used as food for the tusser silkworm. Antimicrobialactivity • the ether extract shows antibiotic activity against Styphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
Alternative to diesel
• It is significant to point out that, the non-edible vegetable oil of Jatropha curcas has the requisite potential of providing a promising and commercially viable alternative to diesel oil since it has desirable physicochemical and performance characteristics comparable to diesel. Cars could be run with Jatropha curcas without requiring much change in design.
BOTANICAL FEATURES
• Leaves: large green to pale-green leaves.
• Flowers: male and female flowers are produced on the same inflorescence, averaging 20 male flowers to each female flower, or 10 male flowers to each female flower.
• Fruits : fruits are produced in winter, or there may be several crops during the year if soil moisture is good and temperatures are sufficiently high.
• Seeds: the seeds are mature when the capsule changes from green to yellow.
CULTIVATION
Jatropha curcas grows in tropical and subtropical regions. The plant can grow in wastelands and grows on almost any terrain, even on gravelly, sandy and saline soils. It can thrive in poor and stony soils, although new research suggests that the plant's ability to adapt to these poor soils is not as extensive as had been previously stated. Complete germination is achieved within 9 days. Adding manure during the germination has negative effects during that phase, but is favorable if applied after germination is achieved. It can be propagated by cuttings, which yields faster results than multiplication by seeds. Jatropha curcas thrives on a mere 250 mm (10 in) of rain a year, and only during its first two years does it need to be watered in the closing days of the dry season. Ploughing and planting are not needed regularly, as this shrub has a life expectancy of approximately forty years. The use of pesticides is not necessary, due to the pesticidal and fungicidal properties of the plant. It is used in rural Bengal for dhobi itch a fungal infection. While Jatropha curcas starts yielding from 9–12 months time, the best yields are obtained only after 2 – 3 years time.
MEDICINAL VALUE OF PLANT
Jatropha curcas is a drought resistant, perennial plant that grows even in the marginal and poor soil. Raising Jatropha is easy and it keeps producing seeds for many years. In the recent years, Jatropha has become famous primarily for the production of biodiesel. Jatropha has been also used as traditional folk medicine in many countries. Jatropha Curcas is a source of several secondary metabolites of medicinal importance. The leaf, fruits, latex and bark contain glycosides, tannins, phytosterols, flavonoids and steroidal sapogenins that exhibit wide ranging medicinal properties. Commercial exploitation for biopharmaceuticals is one of the prospective future potential of this plant. Flavonoids Flavonoids are phenolic compounds that are involved in plant-plant interactions (allelopathy, inhibition of germination and growth). Glycosides These glycosides reject hydrogen cyanide when the plants are damaged. Glycosides are synthesized from amino acids. Tannins Tannins are substances present mainly in the peel. These are polymers (polyphenols). They are, after coagulation, very stable compounds with proteins. Tannins have the main effect for the plants, making them less digestible. The free phenolic acids in the cell cytoplasm prevents digestion by herbivores (mainly insects and their larvae, caterpillars mainly), of plant tissue by blocking their digestive enzymes. Sapogenins The saponins are substances whose particularity is to lather with water. These substances, slightly caustic and irritating, possibly toxic, make plants that contain them absolutely inedible.
MULTIPLE USES
Jatropha Latex The latex of Jatropha contains alkaloids including Jatrophine, Jatropham and curcain with anti-cancerous properties. The white latex serves as a disinfectant in mouth infections in children. It is also used externally against skin diseases, piles and sores among the domestic livestock. Jatropha leaves The leaves contain apigenin, vitexin and isovitexin, etc which along with other factors enable them to be used against malaria, rheumatic and muscular pains.Moreover antibiotic activity of Jatropha has been observed against organisms including Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The juice of the leaf is used as an external application for piles. Jatropha Roots The roots are known to contain an antidote against snake venom. Venezuelans take the root decoction for dysentery Root is used in decoction as a mouthwash for bleeding gums and toothache. Otherwise used for eczema, ringworm, and scabies. Jatropha Oil The seed oil can be applied to treat eczema and skin diseases and to soothe rheumatic pain. The 36% linoleic acid (C18:2) content in Jatropha kernel oil is of possible interest for skincare industry. Jatropha Seed The seeds of the plant are not only a source of biodiesel but also contain several metabolites of pharmaceutical importance.Seeds are used also for dropsy, gout, paralysis, and skin. Leaves The young leaves may be safely eaten, steamed or stewed. Cooked with goat meat, they are said to advantageously counteract its smell. Pounded leaves are applied near horses' eyes to repel flies in India. HCN (Hydrogen cyanide) is present in the leaves.The extracts of the plants are dangerous to use but water can easily release it over if not too much extract is applied. Flowers The species is listed as a honey plant. HCN is present. Nuts HCN is present. Used as a contraceptive in South Sudan. Roots Their ashes are used as a salt substitute. HCN and Rotenone are present. Bark Used as a fish poison. HCN is present. Latex Strongly inhibits the watermelon mosaic virus. Sap It stains linen. Sometimes used for marking. Shrub Shrub as a host for the lac insect, which is used in medicine as hepatoprotective and antiobesity drug.
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