Definitions for jatropha
This page provides all possible meanings and translations of the word jatropha
Jatropha, genus Jatropha(noun)
a mainly tropical genus of American plant belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae
Any of several plants, of the genus Jatropha, native to the Northern Hemisphere; some have medicinal attributes and others are grown as a source of biodiesel.
Jatropha is a genus of flowering plants in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἰατρός, meaning "physician," and τροφή, meaning "nutrition," hence the common name physic nut. It contains approximately 170 species of succulent plants, shrubs and trees. Most of these are native to the Americas, with 66 species found in the Old World. Mature plants produce separate male and female flowers. As with many members of the family Euphorbiaceae, Jatropha contains compounds that are highly toxic. In 2007 Goldman Sachs cited Jatropha curcas as one of the best candidates for future biodiesel production. 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. However, despite their abundance and use as oil and reclamation plants, none of the Jatropha species have been properly domesticated and, as a result, their productivity is variable, and the long-term impact of their large-scale use on soil quality and the environment is unknown. Igbinosa and colleagues demonstrated potential broad spectrum antimicrobial activity of J. curcas.
U.S. National Library of Medicine
A plant genus of the family EUPHORBIACEAE. Members contain jatrophone and other diterpenes.
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