Caralluma tuberculata, also known as choongan, is a succulent plant that originates from India and Pakistan. It has traditionally been used by indigenous tribes to suppress appetite and increase endurance during long hunts. The summary grows well in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. It can be propagated through seeds or cuttings, with cuttings having a 100% germination rate. Choongan is cultivated as a vegetable and medicine to suppress appetite, aid weight loss, and help manage diabetes. It also has export potential, selling for 25 times more per pot in American markets compared to domestic Pakistani markets.

2. Carelluma ( Choongan )
A
Presentation by
Mr. Allah Dad Khan

3. CHONG (Caralluma
Tuberculata )

4. Origin
 India - Jammu and Kashmir,
Punjab; Pakistan
 Traditionally, Indian tribes chewed chunks of
caralluma to keep from being hungry during a
long hunt. These days, a solution that
contains chemicals taken from the plant
(extract) is used to decrease appetite
for weight loss. It is also used to quench thirst
and to increase endurance.

6. Different Names of Caralluma
Tuberculata
Language Name
Pashto Pumankay
Urdu Choongan
English Bitter Cress
Botanical Caralluma Tuberculata

9. Distribution in Pakistan
It is widely distributed in Pakistan in almost all
the four Provinces but the most common in
Baluchistan and secondly in NWFP.
Basically, the Caralluma herb is an edible succulent
plant. It has been utilized by the people for over a
hundred years for many purposes, including the control
of hunger and improved strength. However it has also
been simply used in cooking, as Caralluma is a typical part
of the diet.

11. Characteristics
Spiny leaves and thick flowers characterize the Caralluma plant.
The flowers are star
shaped and may be purple, red, black or yellow. They are
typically shown during the
summer or fall. The Caralluma stands with an angular stem and
is clump forming.
While the herb has been found extremely useful in many kinds
of situations.

12. Botany
 Stem succulent, angular, up to 15 cm tall, branches 8-13 mm
broad. Flowers in terminal cymes, pedicellate. Sepals ovate-
lanceolate. Corolla 8-9 mm in diameter, dark purple, deeply
divided, lobes lanceolate, glabrous. Follicles 8-10.5 cm,
glabrous, gradually tapering towards the tip.

13. Choongan as Vegetable
Caralluma as Vegetable - Hundreds upon
hundreds of years, even before the Caralluma
herb was known to the Western world, it has
been utilized by the peoples as a vegetable. It
has also been mixed with chutneys and pickles.
It can be consumed both cooked and raw. The
green follicles of the herb are often boiled,
salted, and consumed.

14. Choongan as Medicine
 i1.Caralluma s a plant largely associated with Indian hunter-gatherers for
its apparent appetite suppressing properties.,stamina enhancer , food and
thrist quencher .
 2. Helps in weight loss., blocks the enzyme citrate lyase , Malonyl
Coenzyme When these enzyme’s activity istopped, body cannot produce
fat , Chong forces your body to start burning its own fat reserves, thus
promoting fat loss.
 3. Chong is believed to work directly on the appetite control center of your
brain, specifically the hypothal
 4.Caralluma is a “new” discovery in the west in the family of cactii and
succulent plants that are becoming increasingly popular for their appetite
suppressant, and loss properties, as well as their ability to lower blood
sugar.amus, to suppress your appetite.
 5.Used In Diabetes

15. Present Position and Scope
 Sold one pot in Pakistan @ 300 Rupees
 Sold one pot in America @25 Dollars

16. Cultivation package
1. Preparation of Pot)
a) Size of pot = ( 10X3 inches)
b) Mix the following ingredients ( Sand: Silty clay:FYM: Wood
Bran)( 1:1:1:1)
c) Mix the ingredients thoroughly .
d) Fill the pot and left one inch space for water.
e) Place pots I half sun and shade place.
2.Propogation through seed
a) Chong starts flowers in March and gives until July .
b) Seed form in June July .
c) The seed is sown inn July
d) Seed germinate after 20 days.
e) Plant produced take time to maturity .
F ) Not preferable.

18. Cultivation Package continued
3. Through Cutting Propagation
a) Can be sown year round .
b) Cutting with root and with out roots germinate 100%
c) Plant 30 gm cutting in a pot of ( 10X3 inch)
4.Method of Sowing
a. If through seed , seed depth not more then one inch.
b. Cutting to be planted ½ to 1 inch deep.
c. After planting light watering .
5.Irrigation
a) In winter after 15 days interval
b) In summer after 7 days interval.

19. Cultivation Package Continued
Shoots with 5 cm in height were separated
and individual shoots were transferred for rooting to
half-strength MS medium containing
different concentrations of
NAA (α-naphthalene acetic acid),
IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) and
IBA (Indole-3-butyric acid). The cultures
were incubated under 16 h photoperiod for 30 days
until the micro shoots developed the roots.

20. Cultivation Package Contd
6. Insects = Snails and caterpillars
7. Production = One pot planted with 30 gm
cutting will produce 300-400 gm per year