Sanskrit name: Dragonfruit
Botanical name – Selenicereus undatus
Family name – Cactaceae
Identification No. – SDACH/HG/211
Vernacular names – Hindi: Dragon Fruit, Kamalam; Marathi: Kamalam; Tamil: Pirap Pazham; Telugu: Kamalam Pandu; Malayalam: Kamalam; Bengali: Dragon Phal
Synonyms – Dragon Fruit, Pitaya, Kamalam
Habitat & Distribution – Native to Central America; now widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions including Vietnam, Thailand, Israel, and parts of India (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh). Grows well in dry and semi-arid zones.
Morphology – A fast-growing, climbing cactus with triangular, fleshy, green stems; large, white, nocturnal flowers (fragrant); fruit is oval to pear-shaped with bright pink or red skin and white pulp with small black seeds.
Varieties –
- White-fleshed Dragon Fruit (S. undatus)
- Red-fleshed Dragon Fruit (S. costaricensis)
- Yellow Dragon Fruit (S. megalanthus)
Phytochemicals – Betalains (betacyanins, betaxanthins), Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), Polyphenols, Flavonoids, Polysaccharides, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids (in seeds), Carotenoids
Raspanchaka –
Rasa: Madhura, Tikta
Guna: Laghu, Snigdha
Virya: Sheeta
Vipaka: Madhura
Prabhava: Rakta-pittahara
Dosha Shamakta: Pitta-Vatahara
Karma (Rogaghnata) –
Raktapittahara (blood purifier), Rasayana (rejuvenator), Vranaropana (wound healing), Balya (strength promoting), Dourgandhya hara (deodorizing), Vrishya (aphrodisiac), Twachya (skin tonic)
Amayika Prayoga/Therapeutic Uses –
External –
- Fruit pulp used in face masks for antioxidant and skin-brightening effects in cosmetology
- Seed oil explored for wound healing and moisturizing
Internal –
- Used to boost immunity, improve digestion, regulate blood sugar, enhance skin health, reduce oxidative stress
- Beneficial in cardiovascular health, anemia, constipation
Part used – Fruit
IUCN Status – Not Evaluated
Research updates –
Esquivel P, et al. Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of pitaya (Selenicereus undatus). Food Chem. 122(4):1124–1131.
Mahattanatawee K, et al. Bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of dragon fruit. J Agric Food Chem. 54(23):8709–8714.
Hoa TTT, et al. Hypoglycemic effect and pancreatic protection of dragon fruit extract in diabetic rats. Biomed Pharmacother. 106:593–601.
