Garcinia gummi-gutta

Garcinia gummi-gutta is a tropical species of Garcinia native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. Common names include Garcinia cambogia (a former scientific name), as well as brindle berry, and Malabar tamarind. The fruit looks like a small pumpkin and is green to pale yellow in color. Although it has received considerable media attention purporting its effects on weight loss, there are reports of liver toxicity associated with the Hydroxycut commercial preparation containing the fruit extract, with clinical evidence indicating it has no significant effect on weight loss.

Description

A tree. It grows 14 m high. The leaves are sword shaped and 13 cm long. Male and female flowers are separate. Male flowers are yellow and in groups of 3-4 in the axils of leaves. The female flowers are larger and in the axils of leaves near the ends of branches. The fruit is orange coloured and segmented. It is about 5-7 cm across. It has a thin, smooth skin. The pulp is yellow and sweet. There are 6-8 seeds.

Edible Uses

Garcinia gummi-gutta is used in cooking, including in the preparation of curries to add a sour flavor. The fruit rind and extracts of Garcinia species are used in many traditional recipes used in food preparation in Southeast Asian countries. In the Indian Ayurvedic medicine, "sour" flavors are said to activate digestion. The extract and rind of G. gummi-gutta is a curry condiment in India. It is an essential souring ingredient in the southern Thai variant of kaeng som, a sour curry. In southwest India, the Coorg people make a vinegar known as kachampuli from the species' fruit.

Traditional Uses

It is used in Asian cooking to give acid flavours. The rind is dried and used to sour tamarind like condiments for fish dishes and curries. The leaves are used as a substitute for tamarind. The fruit are also pickled. The fruit is used as juice. The seeds yield an edible fat.

Medicinal Uses

A decoction made from the plant (part not specified) is used in the treatment of rheumatism and bowel complaints. An extract obtained from the mature fruit rind, Hydroxy Citric Acid, is used as a treatment against obesity.

Known Hazards

In addition to possible liver damage, hydroxycitric acid can cause dry mouth, nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, and headaches.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It suits the hot, wet, tropical lowlands. In Sri Lanka it grows up to 500 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Northeastern India, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from fresh seeds. The hard seed coat needs to be broken. Seeds should be soaked in water before planting.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe, though viability can be maintained for 1 - 2 months in moist storage at 20°c. We have no specific information on this species, but the seed of most members of the genus can be slow to germinate, even if sown fresh, often taking 6 months or more.

Other Uses

Gamboge, a gum-resin obtained from the plant, is used as a yellow dye, as an illuminant and in varnishes, water colours etc. Gamboge is a gum-resin which is obtained from the bark, branches and fruits of several species in the genus Garcinia. It contains around 70 - 80% resin with 15 - 25% gum and is used primarily as a pigment, being used to dye cloth (the yellow silken robes of Buddhist monks are often dyed with it), as well as supplying a golden-yellow colouring to varnishes, lacquers, paints, ink, water colours etc. An extract of the fruit is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner. An extract of the fruit peel is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an astringent. The wood is used in construction and furniture making. The tree provides good shade for shade-loving crops such as ginger, or it can be grown in association with other field crops, including medicinal plants. The tree can also be grown as a perennial intercrop with coconut and areca nut.

Production

In southern India plants fruit April to May. In Northeastern India fruit are available May to July.

Other Information

Available in Chinese stores in Australia. It is a cultivated fruit tree.

Notes

There are about 300 Garcinia species.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Aradal, Akouk, Dharambe, Gamboge, Goraka, Inli, Kadumpuli, Kana goraka, Karukkampuli, Kodakkapuli, Kodampuli, Kodapuli, Kodukka puli, Kouk, Kowagota, Oante huli, Oante puli, Pinampuli, Rata goraka, Simachinta, Simai hunase, Upagi mara, Vilaiti, Vilati-amli

References (26)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 229
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 73
• Biswas, S. C., et al, 2018, Diversity of wild edible minor fruits used by the ethnic communities of Tripura, India. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. Vol 17(2), April 2018, pp 282-289
• Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 1 (A-H) p 1063
• Chandrashekara, U. M., 2009, Tree species yielding edible fruit in the coffee-based homegardens of Kerala, India: their diversity, uses and management. Food Sec. 1:361-370

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