Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses, Pharmacology, Nutritional Composition and Agrotechnology of Underutilized Wild Fruit Plant Carissa carandas L.

Abstract

Carissa carandas L., (C. carandas) an indigenous Indian medicinal wild fruit plant, demonstrates remarkable resilience in dry and barren environments. The plant hold significance in traditional medicinal practices among various Indian tribes and mainstream systems like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. In addition, distinct parts of plant are commonly processed into decoctions, utilized in treating a range of ailments such as dysentery, fever, and cold and exhibit various other ethnopharmacological applications. The medicinal attributes of C. carandas have spurred research into its phytochemistry, revealing the presence of various secondary metabolites such as phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, and triterpenoids. These components play a significant role in the plant's medicinal advantages and are linked to various pharmacological actions, including antidiabetic, antioxidant, antibacterial, cardiovascular, anticancer properties, etc. Owing to its noteworthy ethnopharmacological and therapeutic importance, this review seeks to briefly outline the traditional uses, phytochemistry, nutritional composition, pharmacology and agrotechnological aspects of this less explored, and underutilized plant.