LIMONIA ACIDISSIMA = [ FERONIA COREA /FERONIA ELEPHANTUM]
[Wood
Apple]
Tamil: Vilkaankai, Kannada: Nayibela , Malayalam: naai velamTelugu:
velaga, Hindi; Kapith,
Limonia acidissima is a very tall tree growing to about 30-35 feet
with a rough bark studded with spines. Flowers appear on long stalks and fruit
is a ball-like berry with a thick leathery shell which hardens into a woody
matter and thus named Wood Apple.
The
fruit [ripe/unripe] is said to be of medicinal value and different kinds of use
are suggested for wood apple. The fruit resembles that of Aegle marmelos [Tam:
vilvam] The pulp is brown sticky, sweet or sour and occasionally used in certain
observance /celebration. In some areas, jam/ jelly/ fruit juice are prepared
from the pulp of wood apple. In some zones pickle is made from the fruit.
In
Myanmar , wood is used in preparing a face cream/powder.
Nutritional
value
The
fruit is rich in vitamins –B, C, Iron , Fat Calcium , carbohydrate and Protein
Flavonoids,
Phytosterols, Glycosides, SAPONINS, Tannins ,Troterpenoidsa etc.,
Fruit
pulp is said to have anti-inflammatory ,anti-pyretic and analgesic activity.
The
fruit juice is said to help removal of toxins in human systems. Besides,
antioxidant and antimicrobial properties are described for the plant products,
juice, leaf extract etc.,
Biscuits
and beverages are also said to be made from L.acidissima
fruits . Ayurvedic and Siddha medicine systems suggest several uses for L.acidissima fruits . Ayurvedic and
Siddha medicine systems suggest several uses for L.acidissima. The plant seems to a treasure of medicines.
