kokum

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Goa-butter
• kokam
• kokum
• Indian Gamboge

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Oxycarpus indica
• Stalagmitis indica
• Brindonia celebica
• Brindonia indica
• Brindonia oxycarpa
• Garcinia purpurea

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Clusiaceae and is identified by the genus Garcinia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, scientifically known as Garcinia indica, possesses a very specific and limited natural range. Its primary geographical distribution is centered within the Indian Subcontinent. Within this region, it is most notably found growing in the coastal areas of India. This localized presence makes it an important indigenous species for the local environment. Consequently, its habitat is highly concentrated in these specific tropical zones.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Garcinia indica is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, meaning it maintains its vegetative structures and biological functions over many years, often living for several decades. As an evergreen species, it does not undergo a seasonal shedding of its foliage, ensuring that it retains a lush, green canopy throughout the year, which allows for continuous photosynthetic activity. This long-lived growth habit and constant foliage density contribute to its stable presence within its natural tropical ecosystem.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Garcinia indica is characterized by its robust growth form, as it develops as a perennial tree rather than a herb, shrub, or graminoid. This woody plant exhibits a strong, permanent structure, classified under the woodiness trait as a woody species. Although some members of the Clavulinaceae or similar climbing families may exhibit vine or liana characteristics, Garcinia indica stands as a self-supporting organism, lacking the obligatory or facultative climbing habits associated with lianas or vines.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Garcinia indica is characterized by its specialized metabolic pathways and distinctive growth patterns. As a perennial evergreen tree, its physiological processes are heavily geared toward the synthesis of complex secondary metabolites, most notably polyhydroxygamma-butyrolactones such as hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which are concentrated within its fruit pericarps. The plant exhibits a robust photosynthetic capacity suited for tropical environments, utilizing its dense, dark green foliage to drive carbon fixation. Regarding its nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, Garcinia indica is not a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the biological mechanisms or symbiotic associations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, meaning it relies entirely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system. Its water regulation and transpiration rates are adapted to high-humidity habitats, maintaining cellular turgor and nutrient transport through a well-developed vascular system that supports its significant biomass production.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Garcinia indica has 4 reported plant parts identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, seed, stem.

Fruit

1. Planta medica
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
3. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
4. Journal of AOAC International
5. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Leaf

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Seed

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Stem

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Chemicals

Garcinia indica has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Isoxanthochymol, Xanthochymol, Garcinol, (-)-Hydroxycitric acid, Camboginol.

Isoxanthochymol

1. Planta medica
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
3. Journal of AOAC International
4. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Xanthochymol

1. Planta medica
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
3. Journal of AOAC International
4. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Garcinol

1. 3 Biotech
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Journal of AOAC International

(-)-Hydroxycitric acid

1. Dr. Duke

Camboginol

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Isogarcinol

1. Journal of AOAC International

gambogic acid

1. Planta medica

Activities

Garcinia indica has 2 reported activities identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antiproliferative.

Antioxidant

1. Current pharmaceutical design
2. 3 Biotech

Antiproliferative

1. Current pharmaceutical design

Conditions

Garcinia indica has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, amnesia, dementia, memory disorders.

Cancer

1. Current pharmaceutical design
2. 3 Biotech
3. Planta medica

Amnesia

1. 3 Biotech

Dementia

1. 3 Biotech

Memory disorders

1. 3 Biotech

Preparations

Garcinia indica has 5 reported preparations identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include GIFRE, extracts of the stem bark, fruit rind extract, seed pericarps, seeds.

Gifre

1. International journal of radiation biology

Extracts of the stem bark

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Fruit rind extract

1. International journal of radiation biology

Seed pericarps

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Seeds

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC