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Aaduk

Botanical name:

Prunus persica (L.) Batsch

Family name:

Rosaceae

Identification No.-Β SDACH/HG/240

Vernacular names:

  • Hindi: Aadu
  • Bengali: Aaroo
  • Marathi: Peru
  • Tamil: Aatu
  • Telugu: Pichuka Pandu
  • English: Peach

Synonyms
While Prunus persica is not explicitly mentioned in classical Nighantus like Bhav Prakash, it is often grouped under β€œforeign fruits” or Phalini Varga in later Ayurvedic texts.

Classification according to:

  • Charaka: Not mentioned
  • Sushruta: Not directly referenced
  • Vagbhata: Not mentioned
  • Bhav Prakash: Possibly under Phalini Varga (foreign edible fruits)

Habitat & Distribution:
Native to Northwest China, now widely cultivated in temperate regions across India (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand), Manipur, Europe, and North America.

Morphology :

  • Tree: Medium-sized deciduous tree, up to 6–7 m tall
  • Leaves: Simple, lanceolate, finely serrated margins
  • Flowers: Pink, solitary or paired, appearing before leaves
  • Fruit: Fleshy drupe with velvety skin, yellowish pulp, hard stone
  • Seed: Almond-like kernel enclosed in a hard pit

Varieties:

  • Prunus persica var. nucipersica (Nectarine)
  • Prunus domestica linn.
  • Prunus domestica linn.var. insititia bailey

Substitute/Adulterant:

  • Sometimes confused with apricot (Prunus armeniaca) or plum (Prunus domestica)
  • Adulterants may include immature fruits of Ziziphus species in local markets

Phytochemicals:

  • Flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin)
  • Chlorogenic acid
  • Carotenoids (Ξ²-carotene, lutein)
  • Cyanogenic glycosides (amygdalin in seeds)
  • Tannins and phenolic acids

Raspanchaka:

  • Rasa (Taste): Madhura (sweet), slight Tikta (bitter)
  • Guna (Quality): Laghu (light), Snigdha (unctuous)
  • Virya (Potency): Sheeta (cooling)
  • Vipaka (Post-digestive taste): Madhura (sweet)
  • Prabhava: Hridya (cardiotonic), Trishna-nashak (thirst-reliever)
  • Dosha Shamakta: Pitta-vatahara

Karma (Rogaghnata):

  • Hridya (cardiotonic)
  • Trishna (thirst disorders)
  • Daha (burning sensation)
  • Mutrakrichra (urinary disorders)
  • Krimi (antihelminthic effect of seed oil)

Amayika Prayoga / Therapeutic Uses:

External:

  • Kernel oil (like almond oil) used in massage for skin nourishment
  • Anti-inflammatory properties in poultices for skin irritation

Internal:

  • Fruit: Used in constipation, low appetite, and pitta disorders
  • Seed decoction: Used traditionally in China and Unani medicine as an anti-parasitic
  • Juice: For fever, liver disorders, and urinary tract inflammation

Part used:
Fruit, seed, bark (rarely), kernel oil

Dose:

  • Fresh fruit: 50–100 g
  • Juice: 10–20 ml
  • Seed powder: 1–2 g (caution: contains amygdalin, toxic in high doses)
  • Oil: 5–10 ml

Yoga / Formulations:

  • Not part of classical Ayurvedic formulations
  • Incorporated in modern Ayurvedic tonics and syrups for liver and digestive issues
  • Used in Unani and Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas

IUCN Status:
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List does not list Prunus persica, the peach tree, as a threatened species

Research Updates :

  1. Hepatoprotective Activity (2020, Pharmaceutical Biology):
    Ethanolic extract of Prunus persica leaves demonstrated significant liver protection in paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity models by reducing ALT, AST, and oxidative stress.
  2. Anti-obesity Effects (2021, Nutrition Research):
    Polyphenol-rich peach extract showed potential to reduce fat accumulation and improve lipid profile in mice fed a high-fat diet.
  3. Anticancer Properties (2023, Molecules):
    Extracts from peach skin and flesh induced apoptosis in breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7), suggesting chemopreventive potential.
  4. Neuroprotective Potential (2022, Journal of Functional Foods):
    Flavonoid-rich fraction of Prunus persica improved cognitive performance and reduced neuroinflammation in aged rats.
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