J. curcas, also called
physic nut, is used to produce the non-edible Jatropha oil, for
making candles and soap, and as an ingredient in the production
of biodiesel. The trees produce 1600 liters of oil per hectare.
The cakes remaining after the oil is pressed out can be used for
cooking, for fertilizing, and sometimes even as animal fodder,
while the seed husks can be used to fuel generators. Large plantings
and nurseries of this tree have been undertaken in India by women's
Self Help Groups, using a system of microcredit to ease poverty
among the nations semi-literate population of women. Extracts
from this species have also been shown to have anti-tumor activity.
The seeds can be used as a remedy for constipation, wounds can
be dressed with the sap, and the leaves can be boiled to obtain
a malaria and fever remedy.
J. gossypifolia, also called bellyache bush, its fruits and foliage
are toxic to humans and animals. It is a major weed in Australia.
J. podagrica, was used to tan leather and produce a red dye in
Mexico and the Southwestern United States. May also be used as
a house plant.
Uses
According to Ochse (1980), "the young leaves may be safely
eaten, steamed or stewed." They are favored for cooking with
goat meat, said to counteract the peculiar smell. Though purgative,
the nuts are sometimes roasted and dangerously eaten. In India,
pounded leaves are applied near horses' eyes to repel flies. The
oil has been used for illumination, soap, candles, adulteration
of olive oil, and making Turkey red oil. Nuts can be strung on
grass and burned like candlenuts (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962).
Mexicans grow the shrub as a host for the lac insect. Ashes of
the burned root are used as a salt substitute (Morton, 1981).
Agaceta et al. (1981) conclude that it has strong molluscicidal
activity. Duke and Wain (1981) list it for homicide, piscicide,
and raticide as well. The latex was strongly inhibitory to watermelon
mosaic virus (Tewari and Shukla, 1982). Bark used as a fish poison
(Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962). In South Sudan, the seed as
well as the fruit is used as a contraceptive (List and Horhammer,
1969–1979). Sap stains linen and can be used for marking
(Mitchell and Rook, 1979). Little, Woodbury, and Wadsworth (1974)
list the species as a honey plant.
Folk Medicine
According to Hartwell, the extracts are used in folk remedies
for cancer. Reported to be abortifacient, anodyne, antiseptic,
cicatrizant, depurative, diuretic, emetic, hemostat, lactagogue,
narcotic, purgative, rubefacient, styptic, vermifuge, and vulnerary,
physic nut is a folk remedy for alopecia, anasorca, ascites, burns,
carbuncles, convulsions, cough, dermatitis, diarrhea, dropsy,
dysentery, dyspepsia, eczema, erysipelas, fever, gonorrhea, hernia,
incontinence, inflammation, jaundice, neuralgia, paralysis, parturition,
pleurisy, pneumonia, rash, rheumatism, scabies, sciatica, sores,
stomachache, syphilis, tetanus, thrush, tumors, ulcers, uterosis,
whitlows, yaws, and yellow fever (Duke and Wain, 1981; List and
Horhammer, 1969–1979). Latex applied topically to bee and
wasp stings (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962). Mauritians massage
ascitic limbs with the oil. Cameroon natives apply the leaf decoction
in arthritis (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962). Colombians drink
the leaf decoction for venereal disease (Morton, 1981). Bahamans
drink the decoction for heartburn. Costa Ricans poultice leaves
onto erysipelas and splenosis. Guatemalans place heated leaves
on the breast as a lactagogue. Cubans apply the latex to toothache.
Colombians and Costa Ricans apply the latex to burns, hemorrhoids,
ringworm, and ulcers. Barbadians use the leaf tea for marasmus,
Panamanians for jaundice. Venezuelans take the root decoction
for dysentery (Morton, 1981). Seeds are used also for dropsy,
gout, paralysis, and skin ailments (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk,
1962). Leaves are regarded as antiparasitic, applied to scabies;
rubefacient for paralysis, rheumatism; also applied to hard tumors
(Hartwell, 1967–1971). Latex used to dress sores and ulcers
and inflamed tongues (Perry, 1980). Seed is viewed as aperient;
the seed oil emetic, laxative, purgative, for skin ailments. Root
is used in decoction as a mouthwash for bleeding gums and toothache.
Otherwise used for eczema, ringworm, and scabies (Perry, 1980;
Duke and Ayensu, 1984). We received a letter from the Medicial
Research Center of the University of the West Indies shortly after
the death of Jamacian singer Robert Morley, "I just want
you to know that this is not because of Bob Morley's illness,
why I am revealing this ... my dream was: this old lady came to
me in my sleep with a dish in her hands; she handed the dish to
me filled with some nuts. I said to her, "What were those?"
She did not answer. I said to her, "PHYSIC NUTS." She
said to me, "This is the cure for cancer." We found
this Jamaican dream rather interesting. Four antitumor compounds,
including jatropham and jatrophone, are reported from other species
of Jatropha (Duke and Ayensu, 1984). Homeopathically used for
cold sweats, colic, collapse, cramps, cyanosis, diarrhea, leg
cramps.
Chemistry
Per 100 g, the seed is reported to contain 6.6 g H2O, 18.2 g protein,
38.0 g fat, 33.5 g total carbohydrate, 15.5 g fiber, and 4.5 g
ash (Duke and Atchley, 1983). Leaves, which show antileukemic
activity, contain a-amyrin, b-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol,
7-keto-b-sitosterol, stigmast-5-ene-3-b, 7-a-diol, and stigmast-5-ene-3
b, 7 b-diol (Morton, 1981). Leaves contain isovitexin and vitexin.
From the drug (nut?) saccharose, raffinose, stachyose, glucose,
fructose, galactose, protein, and an oil, largely of oleic- and
linoleic-acids (List and Horhammer, 1969–1979), curcasin,
arachidic-, linoleic-, myristic-, oleic-, palmitic-, and stearic-acids
are also reported (Perry, 1980).
Toxicity
The poisoning is irritant, with acute abdominal pain and nausea
about 1/2 hour following ingestion. Diarrhea and nausea continue
but are not usually serious. Depression and collapse may occur,
especially in children. Two seeds are strong purgative. Four to
five seed are said to have caused death, but the roasted seed
is said to be nearly innocuous. Bark, fruit, leaf, root, and wood
are all reported to contain HCN (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962).
Seeds contain the dangerous toxalbumin curcin, rendering them
potentially fatally toxic.
Description
Shrub or tree to 6 m, with spreading branches and stubby twigs,
with a milky or yellowish rufescent exudate. Leaves deciduous,
alternate but apically crowded, ovate, acute to acuminate, basally
cordate, 3 to 5-lobed in outline, 6–40 cm long, 6–35
cm broad, the petioles 2.5–7.5 cm long. Flowers several
to many in greenish cymes, yellowish, bell-shaped; sepals 5, broadly
deltoid. Male flowers many with 10 stamens, 5 united at the base
only, 5 united into a column. Female flowers borne singly, with
elliptic 3-celled, triovulate ovary with 3 spreading bifurcate
stigmata. Capsules, 2.5–4 cm long, finally drying and splitting
into 3 valves, all or two of which commonly have an oblong black
seed, these ca 2 x 1 cm (Morton, 1977; Little et al., 1974).
Germplasm
Reported from the Central and South American Centers of Diversity,
physic nut, or cvs thereof, is reported to tolerate Slope. There
is an endemic species in Madagascars J. mahafalensis, with equal
energetic promise. (2n = 22)
Distribution
Though native to America, the species is almost pantropical now,
widely planted as a medicinal plant which soon tends to establish
itself. It is listed, e.g., as a weed in Brazil, Fiji, Honduras,
India, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Salvador (Holm et al,
1979).
Ecology
Ranging from Tropical Very Dry to Moist through Subtropical Thorn
to Wet Forest Life Zones, physic nut is reported to tolerate annual
precipitation of 4.8 to 23.8 dm (mean of 60 cases = 14.3) and
annual temperature of 18.0 to 28.5°C (mean of 45 cases = 25.2).
Cultivation
Grows readily, from cuttings or seeds. Cuttings strike root so
easily that the plant can be used as an energy-producing living
fence post.
Harvesting
For medicinal purposes, the seeds are harvested as needed. For
energy purposes, seeds might be harvested all at once, the active
medicinal compounds might be extracted from the seed, before or
after the oil, leaving the oil cake for biomass or manure.
Energy
The clear oil expressed from the seed has been used for illumination
and lubricating, and more recently has been suggested for energetic
purposes, one ton of nuts yielding 70 kg refined petroleum, 40
kg "gasoil leger" (light fuel oil), 40 kg regular fuel
oil, 34 kg dry tar/pitch/rosin, 270 kg coke-like char, and 200
kg ammoniacal water, natural gas, creosote, etc. In a startling
study, Gaydou et al. (1982) compare several possible energy species
with potential to grow in Malagasy. Oil palm was considered energetically
most promising.
Yields and Economics
According to Gaydou et al (1982), seed yields approach 6–8
MT/ha with ca 37% oil. They calculate that such yields could produce
the equivalent of 2,100–2,800 liters fuel oil/ha (see table
under Energy). In Madagascar, they have ca 10,000 ha of purging
nut, each producing ca 24 hl oil/ha for a potential production
of 240,000 hl (Gaydou, et al, 1982).
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