Carissa carrandas L. and C. spinarum L. – Ignored Nutraceutical Fruits

Abstract

Carissas (C. carandas and C. spinarum) are natives of India. Duo is evergreen, hard, diffuse and spiny shrub that being highly drought-resistant grows well in semiarid and arid areas, may serve as a wind break and protective hedge. The plants offer multifarious uses in landslide protection and as a live fence, food (direct and processed, beverages, wine, salad, vegetable, jam), fodder, timber, fuel, wood, a green source of dye and diesel, and of sacred value and sorcery. Unripe fruits are used in pickling while ripe ones are edible. People in various states of India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Senegal and West and South African countries eat raw fruit. Fruit also serves as a spice and a condiment. Known as Karonda (in vernacular language) duo has been used as a folk, veterinary and traditional medicine in the Ayurvedic, Unani, Homeopathic and Chinese and Thai systems. Additionally, duo serves as nutraceutical being rich in iron and vitamins. C. carandas finds place in historical accounts, Ayurvedic and culinary treatises as well in literature and folklore. The multifarious uses of C. spinarum in traditional medicine has earned it epithet as ‘magic tree’ in East Africa. The present paper reviews the history, distribution, folklore, uses as food, forage, feed, folk medicine, and the pharmaceutical, therapeutic, cultural, ecological and nutritional value of Karandas.