LIMONIA ACIDISSIMA

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.