A Review on Medicinal and Nutritional Properties of Some Important Underutilized Fruit Species in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Sri Lanka is one of the smallest, but biologically diverse countries in Asia. There are more than 100 fruit species are distributed in all over the country. But very few species are cultivated commercially, while others confined to unexploited areas such as forests, backyards of homesteads without proper attention or organized marketing strategies. Anona (Sour Sop) {Annona muricata), Beal fruit ( Aegle marmelos), Nelli (Emblica officinalis), Tamerindus (Tamarindus indie a), Sapodilla (Achras sapota), Gaduguda (Baccauria motieyana), Veralu (Elaeocarpus s err at us), Namnam (Cynometra cauliflora), Ber (Masan) (Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.) , Mora {Euphoria longana), Velvet apple {Dialium ovoideum) are some important minor fruit species available in Sri Lanka. These fruits are rich in nutrients with high levels of vitamins and minerals. Apart from nutritive value medicinal properties of these fruits important in Ayurvedic medicinal systems to treat various ailments. Seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, flowers of underutilized fruit species are used for various herbal preparations in traditional medicinal systems in the island. For example 100 g of edible portion of Beal fruit contain 1.8g of protein, 0.3g of fat, 31.8g of carbohydrate, 85mg of calcium, 50mg of phosphorus, 0.6mg of iron, 55mg of carotene, 0.13mg of thiamine, 1.19mg of riboflavin and 8mg of vit. C and it use for the treatment of various ailments such as diarrhea, arthritis, asthma, anemia, diabetes, fractures, swollen joints, high blood pressure and healing of wounds. As an another example lOOg of edible portion of Anona contain 104 k cal, 1.6g of protein, 0.4g of fat, 23.5g of carbohydrate, 17mg of calcium, 47mg of phosphorus, 1.5mg of iron, 70pg of thiamine, 170pg of riboflavin and 37mg of Vit. C and useful in treatment of arthritis, haematuria, hepatic disorders, dysentery and allergy. It has been also proved that this crop is a miraculous product to kill cancer cells and it has 10000 time potent than chemotherapies. Most of these fruit species adaptive to hardy environmental and adverse soil conditions and resistant to pest and diseases. Limited knowledge, less scientific investigations, unorganized marketing system and higher demand for imported fruits are major barriers for popularization of these fruits. These underutilized fruit species can play a vital role in ensuring health, nutritional security and livelihood enhancement of household iii the country. This paper reviews the nutritional and medicinal properties of some important underutilized fruit species available in Sri Lanka.