Garcinia indica choisy

{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen | name = Garcinia indica choisy | regnum = Plantae | divisio = Magnoliophyta | classis = Magnoliopsida | ordo = Malpighiales | familia = Clusiaceae | subfamilia = Clusioideae | tribus = Garcinieae | genus = Garcinia | species = indica choisy | species_authority = L. }}

Garcinia indica Choisy is a fruit tree, of culinary, pharmaceutical, and industrialuses. The tree is also ornamental, with a dense canopyof green leaves and red-tinged tender emerging leaves. It is indigenous to the Western Ghatsregion of India, along the western coast. It is found in forest lands, riversides, and wasteland, and also gets cultivated on a small scale. It does not require irrigation, spraying or fertilizers.

These plants prefer evergreen forests, but some also thrive in relatively low-rainfall areas. Garcinia indica is known by various names across India-- including Bindin, Biran, Bhinda, Kokum, Katambi, Ratamba or Amsol. In the English language, it is known by various names, such as mangosteen, wild mangosteen, or red mango.

The genus Garcinia -- belonging to the family Clusiaceae -- includes some 200 species found in the tropics of the 'Old World', specially Asiaand Africa. Out of the 35 species found in India, 17 are endemic. Of these, seven are endemic to the Western Ghatsregion (lying along western coastal India), six in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and four in the North-Eastern region of India.

Uses

Called "kokum" or "bin'na" in parts of western India, the Garcinia indica Choisy seed contains 23-26% oil, which remains solid at room temperature and is used in the preparations of chocolates, medicinesand cosmetics.

Recently, industries have started extracting Hydroxy Citric Acid(HCA) from the rind of the fruit. HCA is claimed to have fat-reducing properties for the human body. Scientists in India suggests that since this fruit reduced fat, cools the body, purifies the bloodand fights cholesterol. sand liquoresmade from it could attract the health-conscious.

India's first national seminar on 'Kokum' or Garcinia indica Choisy was held March 4-5, 2005at the Goa University, Goa. Those researching on the crop see it as having a bright future: it is rainfed, doesn't have any pest or diseases apart from the monkey menace, and is almost a "zero-attention" crop.

One paper presented at the Goa seminar (March 2005) suggests that the Garcinia indica Choisy has medicinal uses both as a digestive tonic, and to cope with paralysis. In the first case, about half to one glass of curry is prepared from the fruits, with a little salt and sugar, to be taken after meals. For paralysis, the clean-chopped stem bark is finely powdered and is added to boiling water. After 2-3 minutes, a lightly cooled decoction is used for washing the affected parts, two to three times a day.

External links

• Plant database

See also

• Bhirand

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It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garcinia+indica+choisy Wikipedia article Garcinia indica choisy.