ANALYSIS OF SEED OIL OF JATROPHA CURCAS: A MIRACLE PLANT

Abstract

Jatropha curcas, commonly known as physic nut, is a drought resistant plant and grows in the places where most of plants would die. It is a multipurpose plant because all the parts of the plant are used either as medicine or for other purposes since ancient times. The plant produces many useful products, specially the seeds from which oil can be extracted. The present study shows the linkage of ancient knowledge of Jatropha curcas with the modern knowledge by giving the detailed chemical analysis of the seed oil. The oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids. This oil can be used as biodiesel and other industrial applications as indicated in the literature.