This document discusses several underutilized fruits grown in India, their nutritional properties, and traditional medicinal uses. It describes 18 different underutilized fruits including ber, custard apple, fig, jamun, bael, wood apple, karonda, passion fruit, tamarind, lasora, kirni, timroo, manila tamarind, chironji, amla, karira, jharber, and mahua. For each fruit, it provides the scientific name, family, key nutritional components, and parts of the plant used as traditional medicines to treat various diseases and health conditions. The document emphasizes that these underutilized fruits are easily available, nutrient-rich,

1. Underutilized fruits and its
medicinal properties
N. VENKATRAJ
RESEARCH SCHOLAR

2. Introduction
• India has adverse climatic conditions, which favors cultivation of more fruit
crops.
• Most of them naturally grow in our Agro climatic conditions.
• But farmers and researchers are interested in only a small number of fruit
crops like apple, banana, citrus, mango and guava etc., to improve the
quality of productivity.

3. • Underutilized fruits – quite nutritious in terms of their vitamin C,
carotenoids and antioxidants.
• Inexpensive and easily available across the country
• Easy to cultivate under harsh conditions
• Naturally disease tolerant and adopted to hot, hardy climatic
conditions

4. Reasons for lower consumption of
underutilized fruits
• Not cultivated in commercial farms
• Most of the peoples prefer to have a fruit with good taste
• Underutilized fruits contains lot of seeds and highly perishable in
nature.
• These are not really easy to handle and consume
• These are available only in local markets

5. Why we can prefer underutilized fruits?
• Cheap and highly nutritious
• Used by local tribes to cure various diseases
• Fruits, seeds, leaves -> used as curative foods

6. Ber/Indian Jujube
• Scientific name : Zyziphus mauritiana
• Family : Rhamnaceae
• Fruits are greenish yellow to reddish brown.
• High amount of Vitamin C (fruit flesh near the seed)
• Also a rich source of Vitamin A & B complex.

7. Plant parts Uses
Decoction of root and bark Dysentry and diarrhoea
Leaf decoction Sore throat
Powder of roots Curing ulcer, fever and wounds

8. Custard Apple
• Scientific name : Annona squamosa L.
• Family : Annonaceae
• Cauliflorous bearing nature
• Fruit -> vitamins A, B, C, E, and K, antioxidants and poly unsaturated
fatty acids

9. • Antimalarial, antifeedant, cytotoxic, diterpenes and are used to treat
HIV.
• Perfumery, soaps, pimple creams, essential oils, hair lotions,
ayurvedic slim capsules, cold balms, anti-stress massage oil, pain
massage oils, and foot care creams

10. Fig
• Scientific name : Ficus carica
• 84% pulp & 16% skin
• Fruits -> protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A and thiamine at varying
concentrations
• Consumed as fresh or dried, preserved, candied or canned.

11. • Fruits -> laxative property -> applied for boils and other skin
infections
• Latex -> used to coagulate milk (Morsli, 1985)
• leaves -> used medicinally as diuretic, demulcent, emollient and
anthelmintic properties.

12. Jamun
• Scientific Name: Syzygium cumini
• Family : Myrtaceae
• Suited for windbreak and roadside plantations
• Rich in anthocyanins, ellagic acid, isoquercetin, glucoside.
• used for its anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-HIV, free radical
scavenging, anti-fertility and antiulcerogenic activities

13. • Blood purification, diabetes, diarrhoea and eczema
• Antidote for strychnine poisoning
• Lowers the blood pressure
• Seed powder -> reduces sugar content in urine.

14. Bael/ Stone apple/ Bengal quince/ Bel/ Siriphal
• Scienitific name : Aegle marmelos
• Oldest cultivated fruits in India
• Commonly found in the hilly regions of India

15. • Fruits -> ayurvedic remedy against diarrhea, dryness of the eye and
common cold
• Prevents scurvy
• Strengthens the stomach & promote its actions

16. Wood apple
• Scientific name: Feronia limonia
• Family : Rutaceae
• Origin : India
• Pulp -> rich source of calcium, phosphorus, iron and carotene,
riboflavin, niacin, thiamine and vitamin C

17. Plant parts used Uses
Riped fruits Liver and Cardiac tonic
Unriped fruits Diarrhoea and dysentery

18. Karonda/ Christ’s thorn
• Scientific name: Carissa carandas
• Family : Apocynaceae
• Origin : India
• Very rich in iron and good amount of vitamin C
• Also contains protein, carbohydrates, fat, fibre and calcium
• Dried fruits -> substitute for raisins (Cheema 1971)

19. • Karonda fruit is considered the richest source of iron (39 mg per 100 g),
contains a fair amount of vitamin C
• Good source of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus and have high
antioxidant activity.
• High pectin content

20. • Wine prepared from ripe fruits -> 14.5 to 15% alcohol (Nalawadi 1975)
• Karonda fruits -> antiscorbutic
Plant parts used Uses
Fruits Anaemia, stomach ache
Root
Lubago, chest complains and
venereal diseases

21. Passion fruit
• Scientific name: Passiflora edulis
• It produces fruits with unique flavour and aroma for fresh eating and
processing
• Good source of provitamin A, ascorbic acid, riboflavin and niacin and
have a high mineral content.

22. Tamarind/ Tentul/ Indian date
• Scientific name : Tamarindus indica
• Family : Fabaceae
• Origin : Tropical Africa
• Pulp has low water content and high levels of proteins, carbohydrates and
minerals.

23. • Fruits -> refrigerant, carminative, antiscorbutic and laxative.
• Seed husk -> used to kill predatory fish in nursery ponds (Roy, 1987)
• Seeds -> manufacture of sizing powders (Rao, 1959)
• Tamarind kernel powder is extensively used for starching of cotton
yarns, jute fabrics and woollen materials

24. Lasora/ Indian cherry/ Assyrian Plum
• Scientific name : Cordia myxa L.
• Family : Boraginaceae
• Grown across India except for the high hills and the temperate climates.
• Fruits -> rich source of antioxidants, i.e., carotenoids, ascorbic acid,
phenols, and minerals, crude fiber, protein, ascorbic acid, ash and
vitamins.

25. • Curing certain human ailments
• digestion,
• birdlime,
• anti-tumor,
• anti-helmentic,
• diuretic,
• demulcent and
• improve hair growth

26. Khirni
• Scientific name : Manilkara hexendra L.
• Family : Sapotaceae
• Origin : India
• Commercially used as rootstock for sapota (tolerance to salinity and
drought)
• bark, seeds and fruit -> rich sources of tannins, oil and vitamin A.

27. Plant parts used Uses
Bark fever, flatulence,
stomach disorder, leprosy,
ulcers, opacity of the cornea and
bronchitis

28. Timroo
• Scientific name : Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb.
• Family : Ebenaceae
• Origin : India & Sri Lanka
• Found in endemic conditions within limited areas of Gujarat, Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu

29. • Leaves -> bidis making (traditional cigarette), agricultural implements
and furniture.
• Indicator for high sulfur dioxide concentration
• It has high phenolic content, flavonoids, scavenging activity,
antioxidants and Beta carotene
• Bark extracts -> treat dyspepsia, diarrhea, and smallpox (burnt bark)

30. Manila tamarind / Madras thorn Monkey pod
• Scientific name : Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth.
• Family : Fabaceae
• Fruit -> sweet acidic taste and high content of dietary fiber, proteins,
Ca, Fe, P, unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants.

31. Plant parts used Uses
Fruit
Toothaches, mouth ulcers,
sore gums, dysentery,
chronic diarrhea, stress,
Aging symptoms and dark skin
spots

32. Chironji
• Scientific name: Buchana nialanzan
• Family : Anacardiaceae
• Found in the arid and semi-arid forests of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
• medium-sized, subdeciduous/ evergreen plant with a straight trunk and coriaceous
leaves
• It has anti-diabetic activity

33. • In Kernels
Fat 59%
Proteins 19 – 21.6%
Carbohydrates 12.1%
Fiber 3.8%
Phosphorous 528 mg / 100g pulp
Calcium 279 mg /100g pulp
Iron 8.5 mg / 100g pulp

34. • To cure
• Snakebite
• Dysentery
• Diarrhea
• Asthma
• Burning sensation of body
• Fever
• Ulcers
• Cold
• Alzheimer's

35. Amla/Aonla/ Indian Gooseberry
• Scientific name : Emblica officinalis G.
• Family : Euphorbiaceae
• Amrit phal -> medicinal & therapeutic properties
• vitamin C (500-1800 mg/100g of fruits)
• It contains leucoanthocyanins, polyphenols, pectin, iron, calcium and
phosphorus

36. • Used in ayurvedic tonic such as
• Chayvanprash
• Triphala
• Amrit Kalash
• Amalki Rasayan

37. Karira
• Scientific name : Capparis decidua Forsk
• Family : Capparidaceae
• Indigenous, multipurpose small woody perennial much-branched, leafless
bushy shrub.
• Its xerophytic characteristics, such as deep root system, scanty foliage,
mucilaginous sap and tough conical spine, make it an ideal plant for stabilizing
sand dunes and controlling soil erosion by wind during the hot desiccating
summer

38. • Kair is naturally propagated through seeds, root suckers, hardwood
cuttings and tissue culture, but the plant survival rate is very low.
• kair fruit is used as a vegetable, pickles and condiments
• Dried fruit -> important ingredient of a traditional vegetable of
Rajasthan known as ‘Panchkutta’.

39. • Fruit -> rich in proteins, carbohydrates, fiber and minerals (Ca, P and Fe).
• Used in medicine for sedation, anticonvulsant asthma, inflammation
and cough.

40. Wood apple / Kainth / Monkey fruit
• Scientific Name : Feronia limonia (L.) Swingle
• The only species of the Citrus family that can tolerate both drought
and salinity stress.

41. Plant parts used Uses
Leaves Diuretic, anti-microbial and stomach disorders
Root and bark Snakebite
Spines Liver and menorrhagia
Gum Diarrhoea and diabetes
Fruit pulp Skin cancer, diarrhea, sore throat, Jaundice and
gastropathy

42. Jharber
• Scientific name : Ziziphus nummularia Burm.
• Dried fruit contains triterpenoids, alkaloids and saponins
• Used in medicine for their anticancer, sedative, blood purifier, anti-
obesity, antipyretic, body refrigerant, anti-anemia, vomiting and
styptic properties

43. Plant parts used Uses
Leaves Asthma, fever, gum bleeding and
liver problems;
Bark Diarrhea
Root Fever, ulcer and wounds
Fruits Laxative
Seeds Sedative

44. Mahua
• Scientific name : Madhuca longifolia (Koenig)
• Family : Sapotaceae
• Flowers -> edible and highly nutritive (good source of sugars,
vitamins, proteins, minerals and fats)
• Dry flowers -> fermented to produce wine, brandy, ethanol, acetone
and lactic acids

45. Plant parts Medicinal properties
Leaves
Wound healing, hepatoprotective,
antioxidant, antimicrobial, astringent.
Root
Antipyretic, anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant.
Flower diuretic, cooling agent
Fruit lotion in chronic ulcer
Seeds skin disease, head ache, laxative
Bark Itch, swelling, ulcer and skin diseases

46. Mulberry
• Scientific name : Morus alba L.
• Family : Moraceae
• Origin : South west asia
• Leaves -> used as feed for silkworm

47. Pilu
• Scientific name : Salvadora persica L.
• Family : Salvadoraeceae.
• Found in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab
• Xerophytic nature
• Therapeutic compounds -> salvadoricine, salvadourea, sotisterol, trimethyl
amine, thioglucoside, di-benzyl thiourea, rutin

48. • Branches -> natural toothbrush (miswak)
• Seeds -> soap and detergent industries
• Used as medicine for antiseptics, detergents,
astringents, fluorides, enzyme inhibitors,
dental diseases, anti-tumors, anti-leprosy and
anti-ulcers.

49. Soursop
• Scientific name : Annona muricata L.
• Family: Annonaceae
• Widespread in the tropics and frost free
subtropics of the world
• It has anticancer properties.

50. Plant parts Uses
Leaf Head lice
Fruits
Hematuria, liver problems and
urethritis
Stem bark Antistress activity

51. Noni / Indian mulberry / Nuna
• Scientific name : Morinda citrifolia L.
• Family : Rubiaceae
• Noni is native from Southeast Asia to Australia and is cultivated in
India, the Caribbean, Central and northern, South America (Dixon et
al., 1999; Ross, 2001).

52. • Fruit contains 90% of water (Chunhieng, 2003).
• Fruit protein content is surprisingly high, representing 11.3% of the juice
dry matter
• Main amino acids are aspartic acid, glutamic acid and isoleucine
(Chunhieng, 2003).
• Minerals account for 8.4% of the dry matter

53. • It consist,
• Anti microbial
• Anti cancer
• Anti-oxidant
• Anti-inflammatory