Fruits & its Medicinal Value
Dr. Mrs. Vidya N. Sawant (Assi. Prof.)
M.D. Ph.D Scholar,
Bharati Vidyapeeth College of
Ayurved Dravyaguna Vigyana Department-
Pune -43.
Introduction
Fruits
are symbols of good health and love. Every fruit has a different quality and
benefit to share. Fruits are related to immortal behavior. The logic of fruits
and immortality is simple to understand. The underground seeds of fruits depict
new beginnings. These grow and give us new seeds. Thus, repeated process that
does not end is easy to relate to immortality.
Fruit
has been recognized as a good source of vitamins and minerals, and for their
role in preventing vitamin C and vitamin A deficiencies. Fruit
are important sources of many nutrients, including potassium, fiber, vitamin C
and folic acid. The nutrients in fruit are vital for health and maintenance of
your body.
In
common language usage, "fruit" normally means the fleshy
seed-associated structures of a plant that are sweet or sour and edible in the
raw state, such as apples, oranges, grapes, strawberries, bananas, and lemons
etc.
Table No. 1- Fruits & Nutritional Values
No.
|
Sanskrit
name
|
Family
|
Scientific
name
|
Nutritional
value
|
1
|
Amra
(mango)
|
Anacardiaceae
|
Mangifera indica Linn
|
Vit A,B,D, C++, Citric acid, galic acid,
Protein, carbohydrate, calcium, riboflavin, Iron , folate, pantothenic acid,
Vit B6,E,C,K
|
2
|
Kathara(Jack fruit)
|
Moraceae
|
Artocarpus integrifolia Linn.
|
Fruit -Vit A,C, Protein
Seed – Vit B1,B2
|
3
|
Kadali(Banana)
|
Musaceae
|
Musa sapientum Linn.
|
Sugar, Vit C, B, riboflavin, potassium,
calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, mangenese, iron, sodium, copper, zinc,
selenium, Vit A,B1, B2, niacin,
|
4
|
Narikel (coconut)
|
Palmae
|
Cocos nucifera Linn.
|
Vit C, B1, E, A
|
5
|
Kalindam
(Watermelon)
|
Cucurbitaceae
|
Citrullus vulgaris Schrad
|
Pectin, citrulline , protein,
carbohydrate,calcium,
|
6
|
Kharbujam
( Melon)
|
Cucurbitaceae
|
Cucumis melo Linn.
|
Vit A, B1, B2, C, protein , carbohyadrate
|
7
|
Bilva
|
Rutaceae
|
Aegle marmelos
Corr.
|
Pectin, Marmelosin
|
8
|
Kapittha (Wood Apple,,Elephant Apple)
|
Rutaceae
|
Feronia elephantum Correa
|
Riboflavin, Vit C, Pectin, protein ,
carbohyadrate, calcium
|
9
|
Narang (Orange)
|
Rutaceae
|
Citrus reticulata
Blanco
|
Oil – limonene, petitgrain oil. Vit C,
B, A, pectin, carbohyadrate, protein , calcium,
|
10
|
Tinduk (Gaub Persimon)
|
Ebenaceae
|
Diospyros embryopterisPers.
|
Tanin, oil, pectin- fruit
|
11
|
Raj jambu (Jambul tree)
|
Myrtaceae
|
Syzygium cumini Skeel
|
Ellagic acid
|
12
|
Lovely (Star goose berry)
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
Phyllanthus distichus Muell
|
Acetic acid , tannin, saponin, galic acid,
protein
|
13
|
Makhanna (Fox nut, Gorgon fruit)
|
Nymphaeaceae
|
Euryale ferox Salisb.
|
Protein, carbohydrate, carotene
|
14
|
Shrungtakam (Water caltrops)
|
Onagraceae
|
Trapa bispinosa Roxb.
|
Manganese, starch
|
15
|
Dadim (pomegranate)
|
Punicaceae
|
Punica granatum Linn.
|
Gallotonic acid, pelletierine
|
16
|
Draksha (grapes)
|
Vitaceae
|
Vitis vinifera Linn.
|
Sugar, Mallic acid, resveratrol. Vitamin-C, vitamin A, vitamin K, carotenes,
B-complex vitamins such as pyridoxine, riboflavin, and thiamin.
|
17
|
Kharjur (Date)
|
Palmae
|
Phoenix sylvestris Roxb.
|
|
18
|
Vatad (Almond)
|
Rosaceae
|
Prunus amygdalus Batsch.
|
|
19
|
Sevam (Apple)
|
Rosaceae
|
Pyrus malus Linn.
|
Phlorizin, amygladin, malic acid,
potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, mangenese, iron, sodium, copper,
zinc. Vit A,B1, B2, niacin,folate, pantothenic acid, Vit B6,E,C,K
|
20
|
Akshot (Walnut)
|
Juglandaceae
|
Juglans regia Linn.
|
Vit A, C, B, Magnesium, Iodine , Potassium
, Sodium
|
21
|
Nimbuk (lime)
|
Rutaceae
|
Citrus medica Var. acida
|
Citric acid, Vit C
|
22
|
Mishtanimbu (sweet lime)
|
Rutaceae
|
Citrus lemettioides Tanaka
|
|
23
|
Kamarakh (Karambola)
|
Oxalidaceae
|
Averrhoa carambola Linn.
|
Vit A, acid potassium oxalate
|
24
|
Amlika (Tamarind)
|
Leguminosae
|
Tamarindus indica Linn.
|
Citric acid, tartaric acid, potassium
bitartrate
|
25
|
Vrukshamla (Kokum)
|
Guttiferae
|
Garcinia indica Chois.
|
Mallic acid
|
Table No. 2- Fruit colour, Photochemical & Functions
No.
|
Fruit Colour
|
Photochemical
|
Functions
|
1
|
Red
(high in Vit C- helps encourage cellular
renewal)
|
Carotenoids (lycopene),
anthocyanins
|
Lycopene- reduce damage from free radicals,
prevents heart disease, cancer, prostrate problems, reduces the skin damage
from the sun, help memory function, urinary tract health, and makes your
heart healthy. e.g Tomato, Apple, Strawberries
|
2
|
Orange
(orange foods also give us the right amount
of potassium and vitamin A)
|
Carotenoids
|
Carotenoids repair DNA and help prevent
cancer and heart disease, as well as strengthening our vision, keeps our eyes
and skin healthy, and protects against infections. e.g. Pumpkin, Carrot
|
3
|
Yellow
|
vitamin C
|
High in antioxidants, keeps teeth and gums
healthy, helps to heal cuts, improves the mucus membranes, helps to absorb
iron, prevents inflammation, improves circulation, prevents heart disease. e.g
Banana
|
4
|
Green
|
sulforaphane and indoles & vitamin K
|
Prevent cancer, well for the circulatory
system and have good vitamin B and minerals. Help for good vision,
maintaining strong bones and teeth
|
5
|
White /Greenish
|
Allicin and allium
|
Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral,
prevent cancer and heart disease. e.g
Garlic, Mushroom
|
6
|
Blue/
Indigo
|
Anthocyanins & phenolics, vitamin C
|
Anti-aging, antioxidants, prevent heart
disease, help memory function and urinary tract health , reduce free radical
damage e.g. Blueberries
|
Table No. 3- Fruits &its Karma (actions)
No
|
Name
of fruits
|
Karma
(actions)
|
1
|
Amra
(mango)
|
Vrushya, Balya, Mamsa vardhak
|
2
|
Kathara(Jack fruit)
|
Pakva phal – Balya,
Apakva phala- Vishthambhi
Beej – Vrushya, Vibandhkarak
|
3
|
Kadali (Banana)
|
Pakva phal- vishthambhi, Balya, Vrushya
|
4
|
Narikel (coconut)
|
Phala- Balya,Brumhan,Mootral
Narikel Jala- Hrudya, Trushna shamak, Mootral
|
5
|
Kalindam
(Watermelon)
|
Grahi, Avrushya
|
6
|
Kharbujam
( Melon)
|
Vrushya, Mootral, Balya, Sarak
|
7
|
Bilva
|
Medicinal purpose- Bal Bilva (unripe fruit)
Deepan,Grahi
|
8
|
Kapittha (Wood Apple,,Elephant Apple)
|
Apakva phala – Grahi,svarabhed janak,
Pakva phala – Ggrahi,Trushna shaman
|
9
|
Narang (Orange)
|
Hrudya ,Rochan
|
10
|
Tinduk (Gaub Persimon)
|
Raktapitta shaman,
Pakva phala- Stambhan
|
11
|
Raj jambu (Jambul tree)
|
Grahi
|
12
|
Lovely (Star goose berry)
|
Arshoghna , Ashmarighna
|
13
|
Makhanna (Fox nut, Gorgon fruit)
|
Balya, Vrushya, Garbhasthapan
|
14
|
Shrungtakam (Water caltrops)
|
Grahi, Vrushya
|
15
|
Dadim (pomegranate)
|
Deepan,Hrudya,Grahi
|
16
|
Draksha (grapes)
|
Vrushya, Jwarahar, Kasahar, Anuloman
|
17
|
Kharjur (Date)
|
Brumhan , Vrushya
|
18
|
Vatad (Almond)
|
Balya, Vrushya, Brumhan
|
19
|
Sevam (Apple)
|
Grahi,Brumhan
|
20
|
Akshot (Walnut)
|
Medha Vardhak,Balya,Vrushya, Brumhan
|
21
|
Nimbuk (lime)
|
Rochan,Deepan,Pachan, Vatanuloman
|
22
|
Mishtanimbu (Sweet lime)
|
Balya,Brumhan,Rochan
|
23
|
Kamarakh (Karambola)
|
Grahi
|
24
|
Amlika (Tamarind)
|
Pakva- Deepan,Sara
|
25
|
Vrukshamla (Kokum)
|
Rochan,Deepan
|
