Jatropha Curcas

Other Names : Pokok Jarak, Physic nut, Ma Feng Shu, Pahari Erand, Jangli Arandi, Danti Badi, Leprous Tree, Chou You Tong, Fu Rong Shu.
J. curcas is a poisonous, semi-evergreen shrub or small tree, reaching a height of 6 m (20 ft). It is resistant to a high degree of aridity, allowing it to be grown in deserts. The seeds contain 27-40 % oil (average: 34.4% ) that can be processed to produce a high-quality biodiesel fuel, usable in a standard diesel engine. The seeds are also a source of the highly poisonous toxalbumin curcin or jatrophin. The center of origin of J. curcas is in the Northeastern part of South America and the dry areas of Mexico ( Jongschaap et al., 2007 and Makkar et al., 2009). It was reported that the plant was distributed by Portuguese ships via the Cape Verde Islands and Guinea Bissau to other countries in Africa and Asia (Heller, 1996). Currently it is cultivated abundantly in many tropical and sub-tropical regions in Africa and Asia (Schmook and Serralta-Peraza, 1997) as an ornamental tree (Iwu, 1993) or as sturdy hedges (Neuwinger, 1996)

Special Precautions

Acute poisoning were due to accidental ingestion of the seeds. All cases were children. They presented with nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps and 10 needed intravenous fluid replacement.

Health Benefits and usesof Jatropha Curcas

• The Jatropha curcas plant or locally known as “Pokok Jarak” has been widely used in traditional medical applications. This plant is used to treat various conditions such as arthritis, gout, jaundice, wound and inflammation.
• Cancer : A survey on plant species from the Mexican flora revealed that J. curcas is one of the species that is used for cancer treatments in Mexico. (See Ref.)
• Homeopathy :
  • cholera and diarrhoea. The abdominal symptoms are most important. Suppressed measles (H. Farrington).
  • Stomach ailments: Hiccough, followed by copious vomiting. Nausea and vomiting, brought on by drinking, with acrid feeling from throat. Great thirst. Very easy vomiting. Heat and burning in stomach, with crampy, constrictive pain in epigastrium.
  • Abdomen ailments: Distended, with gurgling noises. Pain in hypochondria. Pain in region of liver and under right scapula to shoulder. Violent urging to urinate.
  • Stool ailments: Sudden, profuse, watery, like rice-water. Diarrhoea; forced discharge; loud noise in abdomen like gurgling of water coming out of a bung-hole, associated with coldness, cramps, nausea, and vomiting.
  • Extremities: Cramps in muscles, especially calves, legs, and feet. Coldness of whole body. Pain in ankles, feet and toes. Heels sensitive.
  • Modalities ailments: Better, by placing hands in cold water.
  • Relationship ailments: Jatropha Curcas treatment for Compare ailments: Camph; Verat; Gambog; Croton; Jatropha urens--Sponge-nettle--(oedema and cardiac paresis).
  • Dose ailments: Third to thirtieth potency.

References

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629913003244