Jatropha curcas L.

Family : Euphorbiaceae

English Name : Common Physic Nut

Origin : Tropical America

Description

A glabrous erect branched shrub, 2 to 5 meters high and has stout cylindrical green branches with viscid milky or reddish sap. Leaves are orbicular-ovate, angular or somewhat three-or five lobed, 10 to 15 cm long, acuminate, base cordate with long petioles. Cymes are axillary, peduncled, the flowers greenish or greenish-white, 6 to 8 mm in diameter. The petals are reflexed, stamens 10, the filaments of the inner five, connate. Capsules at first fleshy, becoming dry, of two or three cocci, subspherical, 2.5 to 4.0 cm diameter with seeds blackish.

Habitat
Forests of India

Parts Used : Seed, plant and its aerial part

Herb Effects
Very toxic (seed); diuretic and depresses the central nervous system (aerial part).

Active Ingredients

Alpha-amyrin, stigmasterol, vitexin (leaf); beta-amyrin, taraxasterol (bark); beta-sitosterol, linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid (seed); tannin (resin)

Medicinal Use
Skin diseases (plant); as a toothbrush for gingivitis (aerial part).

Dosage
Oil: 10 or 12 minims.

Reference