Gambooge

Gambooge
Gambooge
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Clusiaceae
Genus: Garcinia
Species: G. gummi-gutta
Binomial name
Garcinia gummi-gutta
(L.) N.Robson

Garcinia gummi-gutta (syn. G. cambogia, G. quaesita) is a subtropical species of Garcinia native to Indonesia also commonly known as gambooge,ಕಾಚುಪುಳಿ (kannada/karnataka) brindleberry, brindall berry, Malabar tamarind, kodumpuli (Malayalam/Kerala), or goraka (Sri Lanka). The yellowish fruit is pumpkin-shaped.

Contents

Cultivation

Gamboge is grown for its fruit in southeast Asia, and west and central Africa. It thrives in moist forests.

Uses

In Indian traditional medicine, this species was prescribed for edema, delayed menstruation, constipation and intestinal parasites. In the form of precoction, it was also used for rheumatism and bowel complaints.

The extract and rind of Garcinia cambogia is a curry condiment in India. Extracts from this species are an ingredient in some herbal appetite suppressant and energy products, though there is no formal evidence to support its effectiveness. It is used in weight-loss supplements.[1]

Hepatotoxicity

Hepatotoxicity (liver toxicity) from weight-loss supplements which contain extracts of Garcinia cambogia has been reported.[1]

International naming

  • கொறுக்காய்ப்புளி (Kodukkaippuli) in Tamil
  • കുടംപുളി (Kudampuli) in Malayalam
  • (Kachampuli) in Coorgi
  • ගොරකා (Goraka) in Sinhalese

References

  1. ^ a b Lobb A (14 April 2009). "Hepatoxicity associated with weight-loss supplements: a case for better post-marketing surveillance". World J. Gastroenterol. 15 (14): 1786–7. doi:10.3748/wjg.15.1786. PMC 2668789. PMID 19360927. http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/15/1786.asp. 


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