Botanical name:

Prunus persica (L.) Batsch

Family name:

Rosaceae

Identification No.- 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 “foreign 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 (β-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.