Ethnobotanical, Nutritional, Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Studies of Garcinia xanthochymus Fruit Extracts

Aim: An attempt has been made to document the ethnobotanical values of the fruits of G. xanthochymus in and around the Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) forest and evaluate the nutritional, phytochemical and antimicrobial potential of fruit extracts of G. xanthochymus.

Study Design: Ethnomedicinal collection were made, followed by nutritional evaluation of the fruits. Phytochemical analysis was carried out by qualitative method and antimicrobial activity was evaluated.

Place and Duration of Study: Samples were collected from Similipal Biosphere Reserve and its adjoining areas during 2013 to 2014. Laboratory work was done at Ravenshaw University, Cuttack.

Methodology: Ethnobotanical data collections were made mainly through semi-structured questionnaires focusing on local name(s), present knowledge on uses as food, degree of uses, medicinal and economic values. Nutritional and qualitative phytochemical analysis was done by standard methods. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against two Gram-positive bacterial strains, three Gram-negative bacterial strains and one fungal strain by disc diffusion method.

Results: Ethnobotanical survey suggested that the plant is widely used as a food or food supplement by the tribal people as well as in treatment of various ailments like fever, stomach problems, skin diseases and sexual disorders. Nutritional evaluation showed that the fruit was rich in carbohydrate and starch. The qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed that the fruits are rich in different types of bioactive compounds like saponin, tannins, alkaloid, terpenoid and phenolic compounds. The pathogenic strains showed concentration dependent susceptibility to crude extracts.

Conclusion: The results support the traditional use of the plant parts for the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections. However, further work on this fruit will open avenues for discovery of new lead molecules which might be used in pharmaceutical industries.