2. PHYSALIS MINIMA L.

Transcription

1 2. PHYSALIS MINIMA L. - GENERAL INFORMATION 2.1. Introduction Members of Solanaceae are characteristically ethnobotanical, that is, extensively utilized by humans. They are important sources of food, spice and medicine. However, Solanaceae species are often rich in alkaloids whose toxicity to humans and animals ranges from mildly irritating to fatal in small quantities. Physalis is a genus of plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), native to warm temperate and subtropical regions throughout the world. The genus is characterised by the small orange fruit similar in size, shape and structure to a small tomato, but partly or fully enclosed in a large papery husk derived from the calyx. Many Physalis species are called groundcherries. Physalis is the Greek word for bladder. Physalis is a genus of species of mostly neotropical herbs. Physalis minima L. is one among them commonly found on the bunds of the fields, wastelands, around the houses, on roadsides, etc., where the soil is porous and rich in organic matter. It is an annual herbaceous plant having a very delicate stem and leaves. It is found growing in the sub-himalayas up to altitudes of 1,650 metres. According to Duthie (1905), it also grows in Afghanistan, Baluchistan, tropical Africa, Australia. Ceylon, etc. 8

2 2.2 Classification: Ref: (The Taxonomicon, 1989 Physalis minima L) Kingdom Plantae (Haeckel, 1866 ) Subkingdom Viridaeplantae (Cavalier-Smith, 1981) Phylum Tracheophyta Sinnott, (1935 ex Cavalier- Smith, 1998.) Class Magnoliopsida (Brongniart, 1843) Subclass Asteridae (Takhtajan, 1967) Order Solanales (Dumortier, 1829) Family Solanaceae (A.L. de Jussieu, 1789, nom. cons.) Indian names: kupanti, budda, budamma (Andhra Pradesh); ban tipariya (Bengal); parpoti, popti (Gujrat); rasbhary (Himachal Pradesh); tulati pati (Hindi); gudde hannu (Karnataka); njodi njotta (Kerala); chirboti, dhan mori (Maharashtra); tholtakalli (Tamilnadu) Morphology A small, delicate, erect, annual, pubescent herb, 1.5 metres tall; internodal length, 8.2 cm; more or less the whole plant is pubescent. Leaves, petiolate (4.1 cm long), ovate to cordate, pubescent, delicate, exstipulate, acuminate, having reticulate palmate venation and undulate margins; dorsal surface of the leaves, dark green and the ventral surface, light green; 9.7 cm long and 8.1 cm broad. 9

3 Flowers, pedicellate having 1.2 cm long pedicel, hermaphrodite, complete, solitary, small companulate, 1.2 to 1.4 cm in diameter; calyx; gamosepalous, 5-toothed, actinomorphic, green, persistent, downy; corolla, gamopetalous with five petals, the petal cup, 1.1 to 1.3 cm long, yellow, having five black spots on yellow ground in the middle of the corolla cup; stamens, five, epipetalous, 6 to 7 mm long, having a black filament and greenish-yellow anther lobes; style, black, 9 min long, having a yellowish stigma at the top and a yellowish round ovary at the base. Fruit, a berry, enclosed within the enlarged, 10-ribbed, reticulately veined calyx, which is 4.1 cm long and 2.5 cm broad; berries, stalked (stalk, 2.2 cm long), almost round having a pinhead-sized depression at the end; diameter, 1.4 to 1.6 cm; weight, 2.15 g; volume, 1.32 ml; fully mature fruits primrose yellow 601/2 at full maturity. The seeds are globose and yellow. They weigh 1.13 mg each and occupy a volume of 1.97 microlitres. Weight and volume of l00 seeds, 113 mg and 197 microlitres respectively. Some morphological details are given in Plate The flowering and fruiting season The flowers appear in acropetal succession, i.e. the lower flowers appear and form fruits earlier than the upper ones, which emerge as well as set fruit later. In this way, the flowering and fruiting season of this plant starts from March-April and continues up to the end of November. The fruiting starts from the middle of August and continues till the end of November. The 10

4 average yield from a plant covering 2.5 square metres was found to be 545 g. 2.5 Chemical composition of the fruit The fruit is juicy, containing 61.4 per cent extractable juice and 76.7 per cent moisture. The total soluble solids content of the juice is 12.5 per cent. The acidity of the juice is 1.84 per cent. The fruits contain 5.97 per cent total sugars, 3 per cent reducing sugars, 2.81 per cent non-reducing sugars, 0.64 per cent tannins and 0.52 percent pectin. They contain a good amount of vitamin C which is mg per 100 ml of juice. The mineral content of the fruit, as represented by its ash, is per cent. The protein content of the fruit is 2.75 per cent. The content of some of the important minerals of the fruits, viz. phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron is , 0.024, and per cent respectively. (Parmar and Kaushal, 1982).Active Ingredients are Dihydroxyphysalin B2-4 and physalins A. B and X (aerial part) 2.6. Medicinal properties Kirtikar and Basu (1935) have reported that the plants of Physalis minima L. are bitter, appetizing, tonic, diuretic, laxative, useful in inflammations,rahman et al.,(2004) reported that the plant is used in Gonorrhea, enlargement of the spleen and abdominal troubles. The fruit is considered to be a tonic, diuretic and purgative in the Punjab. The mundas (a tribe) of Chota Nagpur, mix the juice of the leaves with water and mustard oil and use it as a remedy against earache. Extracts from the plant 11

5 have shown anticancer activity. ; diuretic (aerial part and fruit); abortifacient (aerial part). Ayurvedic Properties Rasa : Tikta, Madhura Guna : Guru, Singdha Virya : Seeta Medicinal Properties Plant pacifies vitiated pitta, burning sensation, hepatitis, splenomegaly, ascites, ulcer, sexual weakness and cough. Useful part : Whole plant Other information s Dessert quality The fruits are juicy, mildly astringent and sweet with a pleasant blend of acid. The overall quality of the fruit is good Known hazards Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, it belongs to a genus where many of the members have poisonous leaves and stems, though the full ripe fruits are usually edible ( Utilization The fruits are covered by the persistent calyx which protects them from external injury. They are eaten and liked by all. They are juicy and, as is evident from their chemical composition, they are a good source of vitamin C. The raw fruit can also be used as a vegetable. ( 12

6 This plant is highly resistant to insect pests and diseases. Its cultivation should be developed and the techniques for making squash and jam from its fruits should be standardized. 13