Heath and environment benefits of Jatropha curcas Linn.

An attempt has been made to review the health and environmental benefits of physics nut (Jatropha curcas Linn.). it is established different parts of this biodiesel producing plant including the leaves, the oil, sap, stem, roots and bark have numerous health benefits including skin injections, antidote for snake bites, leprosy and rheumatism, treatment of tooth ache and muscular pains, pile, fever, jaundice, gonorrhea, constipation, heart burn and as purgative as well as contraceptive principle. It is also maintained that J. curcas has anti-malarial, insecticidal, anticancerous and anti-tumor properties. Environmentally, J. curcas has great potential for soil enrichment, can replace synthetic fertilizers as the leaves and branches are used as manure for coconut trees. It contributes to carbon sequestration thereby aiding in the mitigation of climate change. It also has the potential of retaining marginal and degraded soil by re anchoring the soil with substantial roof and reducing possibility of soil erosion. The study also established that J. curcas has the potential of remediating heavy metal and hydrocarbon contaminated soils. The health and environmental benefits of this multipurpose plant need to harness to better the lots of Nigeria rural populace.