Short Communication BALANITES AEGYPTIACA (L.) DEL.: A MULTIPURPOSE AND POTENTIAL BIODIESEL TREE SPECIES OF THE ARID REGIONS

Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del., commonly known as hingota or desert date is an evergreen xerophyte. This plant can survive in a wide range of climatic conditions. It can withstand high temperature, high light intensity, high wind velocity and severe drought. The fruits and roots of this plant contain diosgenin, which can be used in pharmaceutical industry in production of oral contraceptive and steroids. The seeds of this plant contain 30-60% oil, which is edible and used as cooking oil. The seed oil can also be used as biofuel as combustion energy of oil is comparable to that of diesel. Fruits are also being used in detergent industry. This plant also has been reported to have Bristol and larvicidal activity against some mosquitoes. The stem of the tree contains steroidal saponins, which have been shown to have an insect anti-feedant and molluscicidal properties. Beside this the leaves of this plant is a one of the favorite fodder among goats, so it can play an important role of fodder tree in the desert in severe drought. This plant can be listed among the plants, which are used as famine foods. The yield of this marvelous tree is about 125 Kg/tree/annum. So looking at the importance and nature of the plant, this plant species must be promoted as planting material in combating desertification programme and in stabilization of sand dunes. This plant can play significant role especially against soil erosion as it produces root sucker in nearby area, the clump of the root sucker can hold the soil for a long.