Sanskrit Name
Bhavya, Avartaki
Botanical Name
Dillenia indica L.
Family Name
Dilleniaceae
Identification No.: SDACH/HG/238
Vernacular Names
Hindi: Chalta, Ootaphal
English: Elephant Apple
Bengali: Chalta
Tamil: Katpuliya Maram
Malayalam: Pettippazham
Classification According to Ayurvedic Texts
Bhavaprakasha: Tiktaskandha (group with bitter taste), used for vrana, meha, kushtha
Habitat & Distribution
Grows in tropical and subtropical regions of India, Bangladesh, and Southeast Asia. Commonly found in moist deciduous forests and near river banks.
Morphology
A medium to large-sized evergreen tree.
Leaves: Large, ovate, leathery with prominent veins.
Flowers: Large, white, fragrant with five petals.
Fruit: Large, greenish-yellow, segmented and edible when ripe; sour in taste.
Varieties
No major varieties documented.
Substitute/Adulterant
No common substitutes or adulterants reported.
Phytochemicals
Flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, betulinic acid, quercetin, phenolics.
Raspanchaka
Rasa: Tikta (Bitter), Amla (Sour)
Guna: Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry)
Virya: Ushna (Hot)
Vipaka: Katu (Pungent)
Prabhava: Vrana-hara (Wound healer)
Dosha Shamakta: Kapha and Pitta pacifying
Karma (Therapeutic Actions)
Trushna-hara (Relieves thirst)
Pittaghna (Pacifies pitta)
Vrana-hara (Wound healer)
Meha-hara (Useful in urinary disorders)
Kushtha-hara (Effective in skin diseases)
Amayika Prayoga/Therapeutic Uses
External: Leaf poultice used in wound healing and skin infections.
Internal: Fruit used for loss of appetite, indigestion, urinary disorders, skin problems, and bleeding disorders.
Part Used
Fruit, Leaves, Bark
Dose
Fruit pulp: 10–20 grams; Decoction: 50–100 ml
Yoga/Formulations
Used in folk formulations for vrana (wounds), arsha (piles), and meha (urinary issues).
IUCN Status : Least Concern (LC)
Research Updates
1. Anti-inflammatory properties (2021): Fruit extract reduced inflammation in experimental models.
2. Antidiabetic effects (2020): Ethanolic extract showed hypoglycemic activity in rats.
3. Antimicrobial study (2019): Leaf and bark extracts effective against common bacterial strains.
