Brindal Berry
Garcinia cowa · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Sparse (59 studies) · ★★☆☆☆
Brindal Berry, scientifically known as Garcinia cowa, is a versatile medicinal plant native to the tropical regions of India. Renowned for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it is frequently used in traditional medicine to treat digestive ailments, skin conditions, and infections, offering significant therapeutic potential in modern pharmacology.
- Family
- Clusiaceae
- Native range
- Asia-Temperate
- Parts used
- Leaf · Fruit
- Common names
- Brindal Berry · Cowa Fruit · 2 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Stalagmitis Cowa
Names
Common Names
- Brindal Berry
- Cowa Fruit
- Cowa Moangosteen
- cowa
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Garcinia cowaSynonyms
- Stalagmitis cowa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Malpighiales and placed in the family Clusiaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Garcinia, which includes the species Garcinia cowa.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Clusiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Garcinia | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across several key regions within the Indian Subcontinent. It can be found growing in the specific areas of Assam, Bangladesh, and the East Himalaya. Furthermore, its presence is well-documented throughout various parts of India. Beyond the subcontinent, the species also extends its range into South-Central China. These diverse locations highlight the plant's significant geographical footprint in Southern Asia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Andaman Is. | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Laos | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Garcinia cowa, possesses various morphological components that are utilized in traditional medicinal practices. The woody stems and slender twigs provide the structural framework for the tree, often serving as sources for extracting bioactive compounds. Its lush, evergreen leaves are known for their specific chemical profiles, while the bark is frequently harvested for its therapeutic properties. Additionally, the fruit is a significant part of the plant, often studied for its nutritional and medicinal potential.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Heliyon (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| fruit | Pharmacognosy research (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | Pharmacognosy research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Garcinia cowa has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Rubraxanthone, Xanthochymol, cowanin, cowanol, cowaxanthone.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Rubraxanthone | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Xanthochymol | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cowanin | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cowanol | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cowaxanthone | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| norcowanin | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1,3,5-trihydroxy-6-methoxyxanthone | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1,3,6,7-Tetrahydroxyxanthone | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1,5,6-trihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyxanthone | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1,5,6-trihydroxy-3-methoxy-4-(3-hydroxyl-3-methylbutyl)xanthone | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Rubraxanthone
- Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
- Pharmacognosy research
Xanthochymol
- Journal of AOAC International
- Annals of medicine
cowanin
- Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
- Planta medica
cowanol
- Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
- Planta medica
cowaxanthone
- Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
- Planta medica
norcowanin
- Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
- Planta medica
1,3,5-trihydroxy-6-methoxyxanthone
- Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
1,3,6,7-Tetrahydroxyxanthone
- Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
1,5,6-trihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyxanthone
- Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
1,5,6-trihydroxy-3-methoxy-4-(3-hydroxyl-3-methylbutyl)xanthone
- Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
Activities
Garcinia cowa has 6 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antiparasitic, Antiproliferative, Antiviral.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antidiabetic | Heliyon (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiparasitic | Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Expectorant | Pharmacognosy research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Garcinia cowa has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, Leishmaniasis, Plasmodium falciparum, antipyretic agent, breast cancer.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | Biomolecules (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leishmaniasis | Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Plasmodium falciparum | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antipyretic agent | Pharmacognosy research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| breast cancer | Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| expectorant | Pharmacognosy research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastric ulcer | Annals of medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastric ulcers | Annals of medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastrointestinal diseases | Annals of medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| indigestion | Pharmacognosy research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| bark | Pharmacognosy research (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chamuangone-enriched extract (CEE) | Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chromatographically standardized fruit extract | Annals of medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanol extract | Die Pharmazie (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit | Pharmacognosy research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| latex | Pharmacognosy research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extract | Heliyon (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | Pharmacognosy research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanolic extract | Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | Pharmacognosy research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |