Plant Diversity ›› 2005, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (06): 605-612.

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Studies on Jatropha curcas Seed

DENG Zhi-Jun1 , CHENG Hong-Yan2 , SONG Song-Quan1   

  1. 1 Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303 , China ; 2 Institute of Botany , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093 , China
  • Received:2005-07-07 Online:2005-10-25 Published:2005-10-25
  • Contact: SONG Song-Quan

Abstract: Physic nut (Jatropha curcas L .) is a semi-fleshy small tree or large shrub , belonging to Euphorbiaceae family, Jatropha genus, which has highly tolerance to drought and nutrient deficiency . Their roots, barks, leaves and seeds can be used as medicines . The main components are fats, proteins and terpenes, and the toxins are curcin and seed oil in physic nut seed . Oil content of kernel is about 50% , which can be used as biological diesel oil without pollution . Curcin , seed oil and other extracts from physic nut seeds can be used as biological pesticide . There are a little study on development and dehydration behaviour of the seeds, and their regulation . Physic nut is an important strategic resource with great economic value .

Key words: Jatropha curcas,  , Biological diesel oil,