Amlavetasa Bheda

Sanskrit Name

  • Bhavishya, Kalakhanda, Kusumodar

Identification No. SDACH/HG/271

Botanical Name

  • Garcinia xanthochymus Hook.f. ex T. Anderson

Family Name

  • Clusiaceae (Guttiferae)

Vernacular Names

  • Hindi: Jharambi, Tamal, Tumul
  • Assamese: Tepor tenga
  • Bengali: Dephal, Dambel, Tamal
  • Manipuri: Heirangoi
  • Kannada: Devajarige, Devangi
  • Malayalam: Anavaya, Pinar
  • Tamil: Pachilai
  • Telugu: Ivarumamidi
  • Nepali: Chunyal
  • Mizo: Tuaihabet
  • English: False Mangosteen, Himalayan Garcinia, Sour Mangosteen

Synonyms

  • Garcinia pictoria (Roxb.) Engl.
  • Garcinia tinctoria (DC.) W. Wight
  • Xanthochymus pictorius Roxb.
  • Garcinia roxburghii Kurz

Ayurvedic Classification

Charaka- Hrudyamahakashy, Amla Skanda, Deepaniyamahakshya,

Kaiyadeva Nighantu – Oshadi Varga

Dhanvantari Nighantu – Shatapushpadi Varga

Bhavaprakasha – Amradi Phalavarga, Chaturamla, Panchamla

Rajanighantu – Pippalyadi Varga

Habitat & Distribution

  • Found in humid forests up to 1400 meters elevation
  • Native to India, Southern China, Japan, Indochina, and Peninsular Malaysia

Morphology

  • Evergreen tree up to 15 meters tall
  • Leaves: Oblong to lanceolate, 15.4โ€“30.5 cm long
  • Flowers: Greenish-white, in clusters of 4โ€“10
  • Fruits: Yellow, 5โ€“8.9 cm in diameter, containing yellow pulp and about 5 seeds

Varieties

1. Rheum emodi

2. Solena heterophylla

3. Rumex vesicarius

4. Cissus repens

5. Cissus vitiginea

6. Ampelocissus latifolia

7. Cayratia trifolia

Substitute/Adulterant

Legal substitute: As per Bhavaprakasha, the legal substitute for Amlavetasa is Chukra

Phytochemicals

Garcinia xanthochymus Contains the Following nutritional components like – Vitamin-B and C; Phenolic compounds, Fukugetin, Fukugiside, Glycoside, Xanthones – garcinenone; Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium

Raspanchaka

  • Rasa (Taste): Amla
  • Guna (Quality): Laghu, Ruksha
  • Virya (Potency): Ushna
  • Vipaka (post-digestive effect: Amla
  • Prabhava (Specific action): Not specified
  • Dosha Shamakta: kaphavata hara
  • Karma (Therapeutic Actions)
  • Antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, nerve growth factor-potentiating activities

Amayika Prayoga/Therapeutic Uses

  • External: Paste of young branches applied on boils
  • Internal:
    • Fruit: Antiscorbutic, digestive, emollient
    • Bark: Astringent
    • Leaf decoction: Useful in diarrhea
    • Roasted young leaves: Used in dysentery
    • Seed butter: Used in pulmonary affections, dysentery, goitre

Part Used

  • Fruit

Dose

Juice 5-10 ml, Curna (Powder) 3 – 6 g

Yoga/Formulations: Kankayan vati, Laghvanand Rasa, Hingvadi vati, Ashtang Lavana Churna

IUCN Status

Garcinia xanthochymus is listed as Least Concern.

Research Updates

  1. Phytochemical and Functional Characterization (2022):
    • Comprehensive analysis of different fruit parts revealed high antioxidant and antidiabetic potentials, especially in the peel
  2. Phytochemical Constituents and Pharmacological Properties Review (2018):
    • Summarized various phytochemicals and their pharmacological activities, including antioxidant and antimicrobial effects
  3. Taxonomic Revision in Thailand (2023):
    • Detailed study on the taxonomy and conservation status, confirming its classification as Least Concern
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