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Nutritional and medicinal properties of wood apple

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  • Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (Agril. University)

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Nutritional, medicinal aspect of wood apple
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Nutritional and medicinal properties of wood apple
Article id: 23624
1Arghya Mani* and 2Surajit Mitra
1Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of Post-Harvest Technology, BCKV, Mohanpur, Nadia, WB
2Professor and Head, Department of Post-Harvest Technology, BCKV, Mohanpur, Nadia, WB
*manifruitpostharvest@gmail.com
Wood apple belongs to the family Rutaceae and is botanically known as Feronia limonia. It is also known as curd fruit, monkey fruit
and kathbel. It is believed to have originated from sub-tropical plains of India (Lande et. al., 2010) and prefers a dry climate for
optimum flowering and fruiting. It can be well grown in drought prone and semi-arid regions. The productive age of plant is believed
to be 12-70 years (Sharma et. al., 2014). The fruit is rarely grown commercially in India but has enormous potential to be a major
fruit. It is a climate resilient fruit crop and can tolerate extreme dry conditions during flowering and fruit set. At the same time it can
tolerate wet condition during fruit set (Mani and Suresh, 2018). This fruit can grow in fallow and barren waste land which is even
devoid of essential elements as well (Kumar and Deen, 2017). Juice prepared from wood apple have superb thirst quenching
capability and have tremendous potential to be an important crop for beverage processing. Traditionally in Indian homes, wood
apple is even consumed raw and is preferred because of its exquisite flavour and perfect sour-sweet blend. Wood apple is also used
to prepare processed products like chutney, jam and jelly (Morton 1987).
Wood apple fruits contain a innumerable amount of phytochemicals such as polyphenols, vitamins, saponins, coumarins,
amino acids, tri-terpenoids, phytosterols, tannins, tyramine derivatives, etc. (Dar et. al., 2013). Wood apple have several beneficial
nutritional and medicinal properties. In Indian traditional system of medicine, wood apple is known to cure diseases like dysentery,
diarrhea, asthma, wounds, tumors, hepatitis and cardiac debility (Ilango and Chitra, 2009). Wood apple is known to possess excellent
amount of nutrients which many fruits are lacking. It is having significant amount of Vitamin A, Vitamin B1 and Vitamin B2. It have
trace amount of vitamin C as well (Poongodi et. al., 2013). Wood apple fruit is an enormous source of anti-oxidants and has potential
to scavenge free radicals in human body (Nithya and Saraswathi, 2010).
Table 1: Fruit composition of wood apple
Fruit composition
Amount
Given by
TSS
9.4016.00 0B
Shukla and Singh, (2008)
Titratable Acidity
0.83 to 2.76 %
Shukla and Singh, (2008)
Total Sugar
4.08-4.47 %
Hiwale, (2006)
Vitamin-C
1.68 to 3.40 mg/ 100g
Shukla and Singh, (2008)
Protein
6.3 g/100 g
Poongodi et. al., (2013)
Total Carbohydrates
15.6 g/100 g
Poongodi et. al., (2013)
Moisture
72 %
Poongodi et. al., (2013)
Total Phenol
235 mg/100g
Poongodi et. al., (2013)
Antioxidant Capacity
1412.55 μg/g
Poongodi et. al., (2013)
P (%)
0.037 - 0.078
Singh et. al., (2016)
K (%)
1.29 - 1.86
Singh et. al., (2016)
Ca (%)
0.11 - 0.39
Singh et. al., (2016)
Mg (%)
3.18 - 5.92
Singh et. al., (2016)
Na (%)
3.07 - 7.54
Singh et. al., (2016)
Pectin (%)
1.39 - 1.65
Singh et. al., (2016)
Both ripe and unripe wood apple fruit is known to possess excellent medicinal properties. Ripe fruit is known to cure liver problems
and is good for heart. It has good cholesterol lowering potential as well. Unripe fruit is having enormous potential to cure diarrhea
and dysentery. Ripe fruit consumption can reduce problems and cure in longer run the problems associated with gums and teeth,
hiccough, sore throat and diseases of the gums (Seeja et. al., 2005). Ripe fruit, leaves, stem, bark and root of wood apple also have
anti-venomous capability against snake bite (Maiti and Mishra, 2000). The essential oils which are extracted from wood apple fruits
and seeds are effective against 12 bacteria causing human disease (Geda and Bokadia, 1980). Senthilkumar and Venkatesalu, (2013)
also reported anti-microbial activity of wood apple. Fruit pulp of wood apple is also known to possess antipyretic, anti-inflammatory
and analgesic activity (Ahamed et. al., 2008).
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Even juice extracted from young leaves of wood apple when consumed solely or with milk can cure intestinal problems
associated with worms. It is also good against piles. Wood apple fruit have anti-tumor property. Mishra et. al., (2009) also reported
anti-ulcer property of wood apple. The pulp of wood apple when used for the preparation of face cream can remove lesions and
small spots from the skin (Bandara et. al., 1988). Fruits are also known to be larvicidal property and can kill insect larvae (Rahman et.
al., 2000). Wood apple is believed to be hepato-protectant with some adaptogenic activity like cleansing of blood impurities,
leucorrhoea, dyspepsia and jaundice (Morton, 1987). Acidic hetero-polysaccharide extract of wood apple fruit surprisingly exhibited
cell growth inhibition of in-vivo Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (Saima et. al., 2000). Wood apple fruits and seeds are also known to be
anti-diabetic (Gupta et. al., 2009).
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pulp powder. Inter. J. of Curr. Tre. Res., 2(1): 147-150.
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fruit pulp of wood apple. Industrial Crops and Products. 46: 6672.
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1508.
... Nutritional analysis of fresh wood apple revealed that it contains 6.53 g & 6.90 g crude protein, 0.80 g & 0.90 g crude fibre, 3.73 g & 4.03 g crude fats, 18.33 g & 18.00 g carbohydrates, 1.60 g & 1.97 g total minerals, 234 mg & 239 mg calcium and 69 mg & 63 mg phosphorous per 100 g of pulp for first & second year respectively.Similarly, these levels of nutritional composition of wood apple pulp was also reported and reviewed by Hemalatha and Parameshwari[11] & Mani and Mitra[12]. When compared with fresh wood apple pulp, pickle found to be more ...
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Wood apple is a nutritious minor fruit crop indigenous to India but it is not much popular for the purpose of consumption. The value addition can increase the production and utilization of this valuable fruit crop. Among various value-added products, pickle is popular and traditionally acceptable in India. The present investigation conducted at Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, RVSKVV, Gwalior, MP between 2019-20 and 2020-21, to study the nutrients, chemicals and sensory qualities of wood apple (Limonia acidissima L.) pickle and Nutra-chemical changes in pickle during storage period. The wood apple pickle was prepared as per standard procedure and analyzed for its nutrients and chemical status as well as during storage period to access its self-life and suitability. Fresh wood apple has nutritive property and its pickle was found more nutritious with 3.20 g and 3.43 g crude protein, 1.43 g and 1.53 g crude fibre, 7.03 g and 7.37 g crude fats, 20.33 g and 19.00 g carbohydrates, 1.90 and 1.97 total minerals, 253 mg and 256 mg calcium and 107 mg and 103 mg phosphorous per 100 g of pickle for first and second year respectively. Sensory evaluation revealed color, taste, flavor changed after 90 days of storage remarkably as shelf life is better retained up to 90 days of storage. Moisture, pH and ascorbic acid decreased while titratable acidity and total sugars increased with 0, 30, 60 and 90 days of storage. Original Research Article Rathore et al.; IJPSS, 33(22): 80-86, 2021; Article no.IJPSS.75374 81 Wood apple pickle is nutritious, good in taste and a better source for protein, fibre, calcium and phosphorus among different fruits and it was found suitable for consumption up to 90 days of storage without major organoleptic and Nutra-chemical changes.
... Processed products prepared from wood apple have superb thirst quenching capability and have tremendous potential to be an important crop for processing. Traditionally in Indian homes, wood apple is even consumed raw but its exquisite flavour and perfect sour-sweet blend can be harnessed by value adding it in form of jam (Mani and Mitra, 2020). ...
... Wood apple is also used to prepare processed products like chutney, jam and jelly [6]. Wood apple is a miraculous fruit with enormous nutrients and phytochemicals contributing to its medicinal properties [7]. Wood apple fruits contain a innumerable amount of phytochemicals such as polyphenols, vitamins, saponins, coumarins, amino acids, tri-terpenoids, phytosterols, tannins, tyramine derivatives, etc [8]. ...
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