Dillenia indica L. Family: Dilleniaceae
Synonyms: Dillenia elongata Miq., Dillenia indica f. elongata (Miq.) Miq., Dillenia speciosa Thunb.
Common name: Elephant Apple, Indian catmon, Hondapara Tree, Ma-tad Arabic: ديلنيا هندية
Assamese: owtenga ঔটেঙা
Bengali: chalta চালতা
Chinese: 五桠果
Finnish: Intiandillenia
French: Dillénie d'Inde
Hindi: चलता Chalta, Karambel
Kannada: ಬೆಟ್ಟಕಣಿಗಲು Bettakanigalu
Malayalam: Punna, Vazchpunna, Pinnay, മലമ്പുന്ന
Marathi: Mota karmal, Karambel
Nepali: पांच फल Paanca phal, Panca kule, राम फल Ram phal, ठूलो तातरी Thulo tatri
Oriya: ouu ଓଉ
Sanskrit: Avartaki, Bhavya, Bharija.
Tamil: Kattaral, Ugakkay
Telugu: రేవడి Revadi, ఉవ్వ, ఉప్పు పొన్న, కలింగ, చిన్నకలింగ, పెద్దకలింగ
Thai: มะตาด
Used in Ayurveda and Sidha. Bark, leaves and fruits crushed and the juice drunk for cough, cold, fever, diarrhea. Dry bark with seeds of Sesamum orientale made into a paste applied on blistering boils; bark and leaves used to stop bleeding. Dry powdered roots of Abroma augustum with bark of Dillenia indica and Terminalia chebula given in urinary diseases. Root febrifuge; a decoction of roots with roots of Ficus auriculata and Urena lobata given in discharge of blood in urine; a decoction of roots with roots of Glycosmis pentaphylla and Litsea monopetala given in biliousness; root paste given to cause abortion. Mucilaginous exudate from fruits applied on infected parts to kill skin lice; fruit paste applied with ginger on hydrocele, salted juice of boiled fruits given as an expectorant. Half ripened fleshy calyx pickled and eaten for stomach disorders. Pounded mixture of kernels of Castanopsis indica with flower of Dillenia indica and flowers of Musa balbisiana given in blood dysentery. Veterinary medicine, leaves of Cymbopogon flexuosus pounded together with those of Dillenia indica given to check diarrhea of domestic animals. [CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants]
Leaf and bark as an astringent and laxative, the bruised bark, externally as a cataplasm in arthritis, and the fruit juice as a cough mixture, a cooling beverage as also for toning up the nervous system. It is considered a ‘vata’ suppressant, ‘pitta’ augmenting drug in Ayurveda. The fruit is slightly laxative and induce diarrhoea, if taken excessively. The juice of the fruit, mixed with sugar and water, is used as a cooling beverage in fevers and as a cough mixture and also as a cardiotonic. [Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 2, Fruits]
Yajurveda: An important plant; Upavarhana Samhita: the plant is aphrodisiac and promotes virility; Charaka Samhita: the fruit is sweet, acidic, astringent, removes bile, phlegm, fetid and flatulence; Sushruta Samhita: fruit cardio tonic, tasteful, astringent, acidic, removes bile, phlegm, fetid and flatulence; Rajanighantu: green fruit is acidic, pungent, hot, removes wind, phlegm, but the ripe fruit is sweet, sour, appetising and beneficial in colic associated with mucous; Matsya Purana: decoction of this plant can be used as universal antidote for poison; Agni Purana: spraying water, containing stem extract, on and around the wound caused by spider bite helps in removing the poison. [Horticultural, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants]
Leaf and bark as an astringent and laxative, the bruised bark, externally as a cataplasm in arthritis, and the fruit juice as a cough mixture, a cooling beverage as also for toning up the nervous system. It is considered a ‘vata’ suppressant, ‘pitta’ augmenting drug in Ayurveda. The fruit is slightly laxative and induce diarrhoea, if taken excessively. The juice of the fruit, mixed with sugar and water, is used as a cooling beverage in fevers and as a cough mixture and also as a cardiotonic. [Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 2, Fruits]
Yajurveda: An important plant; Upavarhana Samhita: the plant is aphrodisiac and promotes virility; Charaka Samhita: the fruit is sweet, acidic, astringent, removes bile, phlegm, fetid and flatulence; Sushruta Samhita: fruit cardio tonic, tasteful, astringent, acidic, removes bile, phlegm, fetid and flatulence; Rajanighantu: green fruit is acidic, pungent, hot, removes wind, phlegm, but the ripe fruit is sweet, sour, appetising and beneficial in colic associated with mucous; Matsya Purana: decoction of this plant can be used as universal antidote for poison; Agni Purana: spraying water, containing stem extract, on and around the wound caused by spider bite helps in removing the poison. [Horticultural, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants]
