Articles
Benefits of local humid tropical fruit trees in Thailand
Article number
1186_37
Pages
235 – 240
Language
English
Abstract
Three local humid tropical fruits, ma-pood (Garcinia dulcis (Roxb.) Kurz.), ma-prieng or am-pha-wa or nam nam (Cynometra cauliflora L.), and toh (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Ait.) Hassk.), were collected at The Germplasm Center of the Department of Agriculture in Bangkok, in The Garden in Honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on her 55th Birthday.
Even though they have been in Thailand for a long time, these species have never been commercialized.
The number of plants is decreasing because of their desirable characteristics such as fruit character, yield, growth, propagation and ecology.
From this study, we not only determined the fresh edible properties of the fruit but also identified some active ingredients and parts that can be used for medicinal purposes.
Additionally, the third benefit of these species that we found was that the mature trunk could be used for construction, as the timbers are of different strengths.
Ma-pood, a waxy, bright-yellow fruit, exists together with the belief of ancient Thai people that a good thing will happen when eating the ma-pood fruit.
Its leaves and seeds have been used for the treatment of lymphatitis, parotitis and struma in Indonesia.
Ma-prieng has an interesting ornamental character, especially its branching and leaf colour, with miracle fruit shape and high vitamin C content.
The whole fruit of ma-prieng has tannins, saponins and flavonoids, while terpenoids are found in all parts except the bark.
Toh can be used as an ornamental plant, and the fresh fruit is edible while the yam fruit can be planted in salty soil.
In Thailand, toh has been used in traditional Thai medicine to treat colic diarrhoea, haemorrhage and gynaecopathy.
Moreover, it has been used to formulate skin-whitening, anti-aging and skin-beautifying agents.
Even though they have been in Thailand for a long time, these species have never been commercialized.
The number of plants is decreasing because of their desirable characteristics such as fruit character, yield, growth, propagation and ecology.
From this study, we not only determined the fresh edible properties of the fruit but also identified some active ingredients and parts that can be used for medicinal purposes.
Additionally, the third benefit of these species that we found was that the mature trunk could be used for construction, as the timbers are of different strengths.
Ma-pood, a waxy, bright-yellow fruit, exists together with the belief of ancient Thai people that a good thing will happen when eating the ma-pood fruit.
Its leaves and seeds have been used for the treatment of lymphatitis, parotitis and struma in Indonesia.
Ma-prieng has an interesting ornamental character, especially its branching and leaf colour, with miracle fruit shape and high vitamin C content.
The whole fruit of ma-prieng has tannins, saponins and flavonoids, while terpenoids are found in all parts except the bark.
Toh can be used as an ornamental plant, and the fresh fruit is edible while the yam fruit can be planted in salty soil.
In Thailand, toh has been used in traditional Thai medicine to treat colic diarrhoea, haemorrhage and gynaecopathy.
Moreover, it has been used to formulate skin-whitening, anti-aging and skin-beautifying agents.
Authors
W. Kraikruan, W. Klaipook, R. Thanumthat
Keywords
humid tropical fruits, Cynometra cauliflora L., Garcinia dulcis (Roxb.) Kurz., Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Ait.) Hassk., colic diarrhea
Groups involved
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