Jatropha: What is it used for?

The Jatropha plant has in the last few years grown in popularity and acceptance due to its new found uses but many still are oblivious to this incredible plant.

It may be a common plant growing behind the house of the neighbor next door and treated like an irritating weed when it’s uses are not known but the Jatropha is more than that.

So what is the Jatropha?

The Jatropha goes by different names in different countries. In Nigeria, the Yorubas call it ‘Lapalapa’ or ‘Gbotuje’ or ‘Iyalode’

The Ibos refer to it has ‘Ncheogba’ while the Hausas know it as ‘Bindazugu’.

It grows in every place imaginable, even on waste lands.

What is the Jatropha used for?

The jatropha has many uses in today’s world.

Let’s start with the oil.

ü  The oil extracted from the jatropha seeds, though non-edible, can be used as an alternative to the diesel oil. It has to be refined first, though.

ü  Without refining, however, the oil can be used as an illuminant as it burns with clear free smoke and flame.

ü  The jatropha oil is also a good ingredient in making soap.

ü  Due to it’s anti-cancerous properties, the jatropha oil has found medicinal use in treating skin diseases, sore and rheumatism.

ü  The oil is also good for use as a lubricant in machinery.  

Talking of the plant itself.

ü  The juice of the leaf is externally applied in treating piles.

ü  The roots of the plant are believed to act as an antidote for snakebites. 

ü  The stems of the Jatropha can be used for making basket. But those who know the art understand that they have to roast, split and soak the stems in an elaborate process first.

ü  The seeds of the Jatropha are used in producing insecticides.

ü  The nuts are used in making contraceptives while the seeds are used to make drugs that ease constipation.

ü  The jatropha plant twigs are also used to clean the teeth.

ü  The cake obtained after the oil has been squeezed out of the seeds can also be used for fish or animal feed (if detoxified).

ü  The cake can even be used as a biomass feedstock to power electricity plants, or as biogas or high-quality organic fertilizer.

ü  The Jatropha has often been used as a bio-pesticide.

ü  A dark blue dye extracted from the bark of the jatropha plant is used as a colouring matter for clothes.

ü  The beauty of the plant is that it turns wasteland to a money-making asset thereby bringing wealth to the poor.

ü  We must not forget that the most economically important use of the Jatropha has to be its potential has a bio-diesel.

There are numerous other uses and advantages of the Jatropha that this page cannot contain them all. When next you walk pass a Jatropha plant, just remember that you can be making a whole lot of stress-free cash if only you can pay a bit more attention to it.