Jatropha
Jatropha
Jatropha (/dʒæˈtroʊfə/), from the Greek words iatros (doctor) and trophe (food), is a genus of flowering plants in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It contains approximately 170 species of succulent plants, shrubs and trees (some are deciduous, like Jatropha curcas). Most of these are native to the Americas, with 66 species found in the Old World.
Etymology
The name Jatropha is derived from the Greek words iatros, meaning "doctor", and trophe, meaning "food". This is likely due to the medicinal uses of several species.
Species
Some of the notable species of Jatropha include:
- Jatropha curcas: Also known as the physic nut, Barbados nut, or purging nut. This species is well-known for its potential as a biofuel source.
- Jatropha gossypiifolia: Commonly known as bellyache bush, black physicnut or cotton-leaf physicnut.
- Jatropha podagrica: Known as Buddha belly plant or bottleplant shrub due to its bulbous shape.
Medical Uses
Several Jatropha species have been used in traditional medicine. For example, Jatropha curcas has been used to treat constipation, and Jatropha gossypiifolia has been used for conditions such as asthma and hypertension. However, it should be noted that some species, like Jatropha curcas, contain toxic compounds and should be used with caution.
Related Terms
- Euphorbiaceae: The plant family to which Jatropha belongs.
- Genus: A rank in the biological classification (taxonomy) that groups closely related species.
- Species: The basic unit of biological classification, below the genus level.
- Traditional medicine: The use of natural substances, such as plants, for the treatment of disease.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Jatropha
- Wikipedia's article - Jatropha
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski