Note: This is a project under development. The articles on this wiki are just being initiated and broadly incomplete. You can Help creating new pages.

Limonia acidissima - Kapitha

From Ayurwiki
Jump to: navigation, search
Kapitha, Limonia acidissima

Limonia acidissima is the only species within the monotypic genus Limonia. It is native to the Indomalaya ecozone to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and in Indochinese ecoregion east to Java and the Malesia ecoregion.

Uses

Indigestion, Earache, Scurvy, Diabetes, Kidney problems, Liver problems, Snakebites, Malaria, Sore throats.[1]

Food

Limonia acidissima can be used in Food. Pulp of ripe fruits is eaten raw and used in preparation of soft drink and jam.[2]

Parts Used

Fruits, Leaves.

Chemical Composition

Fruit pulp contains large quantity of citric acid and other fruit acids, mucilage and minerals.[3]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada Dadhiphala, Nayibel
Hindi Pushpaphal, Katabel
Malayalam Vilankai, Vilarmaram
Tamil Vila, Vilampazam
Telugu Kapitthhamu
Marathi NA
Gujarathi NA
Punjabi NA
Kashmiri NA
Sanskrit Dadhittha, Danthashatha
English Wood apple, Monkey fruit


Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Guna

Veerya

Vipaka

Karma

Prabhava

Nutritional components

Limonia acidissima Contains the Following nutritional components like - Vitamin-C; Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium, Potassium[2]

Habit

Deciduous tree

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
Pinnate Alternate Imparipinnate, alternate, 1-3 in a cluster, estipulate; rachis 60-80 mm long, stout, glabrous, often narrowly winged.

[4]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Polygamous 1-3 cm across Yellow 10-12 Dull red, 1.3 cm across, in axillary cymes; calyx small, flat, 5-toothed, pubescent with out, deciduous. Flowering season is November to March

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
Berry 5-7.6 cm across Globose, whitish-brown, rind hard and woody; seeds many, embedded in pulp Many Fruiting season is November to March

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

[5]

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

The wood-apple is generally grown from seeds though seedlings will not bear fruit until at least 15 years old. Multiplication may also be by root cuttings, air-layers, or by budding[6]. Limonia acidissima available through March to August[2].

Commonly seen growing in areas

Dry plains, Himalayas.

Photo Gallery

References

  1. Karnataka Aushadhiya Sasyagalu By Dr.Maagadi R Gurudeva, Page no:263
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Forest food for Northern region of Western Ghats" by Dr. Mandar N. Datar and Dr. Anuradha S. Upadhye, Page No.105, Published by Maharashtra Association for the Cultivation of Science (MACS) Agharkar Research Institute, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar Road, Pune
  3. Chemical constituents
  4. Kappatagudda - A Repertoire of Medicianal Plants of Gadag by Yashpal Kshirasagar and Sonal Vrishni, Page No. 262
  5. Ayurvedic preparations
  6. Cultivation Details

External Links