Jatropha curcas Linn
Family : Euphorbiaceae
Habitat _ Native to tropical
America. Now cultivated along
with Cromandel Coast and in
Travancore.
English _ Physic Nut, Purging Nut.
Ayurvedic _ Vyaaghrairanda (var.),
Sthula-eranda, Kaanan-eranda.
Siddha/Tamil _ Kattu Amanaku.
Folk _ Bagharenda (var.).
Action _ Seed—highly toxic.
Nut—
purgative. Plant—used for scabies,
ringworm, eczema, whitlow, warts,
syphilis. Stem bark—applied to
wounds of animal bites; root bark
to sores.
The protein of the seed contains the
toxic albumin curcin
Seed and seed oil—more drastic
purgative than castor seed oil and
milder than Croton tiglium oil.
An aqueous infusion of leaves
increased cardiac contraction is small
doses. Ethnolic extract of aerial
parts—diuretic and CNS depressant.
The seed contain phorbol derivatives.
The plant also contains curcosones
and lathyrane diterpenes
