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, 15.4–30.5 cm long
- Flowers: Greenish-white, in clusters of 4–10
- Fruits: Yellow, 5–8.9 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
- Phytochemical and Functional Characterization (2022):
- Comprehensive analysis of different fruit parts revealed high antioxidant and antidiabetic potentials, especially in the peel
- Phytochemical Constituents and Pharmacological Properties Review (2018):
- Summarized various phytochemicals and their pharmacological activities, including antioxidant and antimicrobial effects
- Taxonomic Revision in Thailand (2023):
- Detailed study on the taxonomy and conservation status, confirming its classification as Least Concern