Medicinal Fruits and Their Active Ingredients

Medicinal Fruits

• Medicinal fruits are the mature, ripened ovaries of flowers. Their function is to protect, nourish, and facilitate the dispersal of seeds.

Active Constituents

• Medicinal fruits contain various active components, including volatile oils, flavonoids, phytosterols, anthracene derivatives, bitters, and alkaloids.

Medicinal Fruits Containing Volatile Oils

• Specific examples of medicinal fruits containing volatile oils include those from the Apiaceae family (e.g., fennel, cumin, caraway, coriander, dill).
• Other fruit types include Bitter orange peel, Saw palmetto, Senna pod, Colocynth fruits, Piperaceae fruits, Cassia pod, Hops, Capsicum, Poppy capsule, Cocculus.

Family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)

• Aromatic odor is a characteristic of volatile oils in this family.
• Examples from this family include fennel, cumin, caraway, anise, and dill. Specific examples include;
  • A. majus, A. visnaga, Dill

Active Constituents of Anise

• Anise fruit has a volatile oil (2-6%) that includes:
  • 84-93% trans-anethole.
  • 0.5-6.0% estragole.
  • 0.1-1.5% linalool.
  • 0.1-3.5% p-anisaldehyde.
• In addition to the oils, the plant also contains coumarins and flavonoids.

Medicinal Uses of Anise

• Anise is used in treating dyspepsia.
• It is a carminative.
• It treats mild respiratory tract inflammation.
• Traditional use: oestrogenic effect, increased milk secretion, and mentrual promotion.

Contraindications of Anise

• Anethole and anise allergy can cause nasal irritation.
• Should not be used during pregnancy, as it has a traditional reputation for abortifacient and lactation promotion, but no concerns appear when amounts are used typically in foods.

Hemlock as an Adulterant for Anise

• Dried unripe fruit of Conium maculatum is a toxic plant used as an adulterant in anise.
• Contains toxic alkaloids, including coniine and N-methylconiine and gamma-coniceine.
• Ingesting toxic quantities can cause symptoms like burning mouth, throat irritation, visual difficulties, and weakness in legs. High doses may cause death, respiratory paralysis.

How to Detect Hemlock adulteration

• A positive Mayer's test for alkaloids will indicate the presence of hemlock.

Caraway: Constituents and Medicinal Uses

• Caraway contains volatile oil (4-7%), including:
  • D-(+)-carvone
  • Carveol
  • D-(+)limonene.
• Includes fixed oil, polysaccharides, proteins. Also contains coumarins (in traces).
• Medicinal uses include treating digestive complaints, antispasmodic effects, treatment of bronchitis, and treatment for infants (flatulent colic).

Coriander: Constituents and Uses

• Coriander’s volatile oil contains mainly linalol.
• Flavonoids are another component in coriander.
• Coriander’s medicinal use is as a carminative for GIT disorders.

Dill: Constituents

• Contains an essential oil (2-5%), containing:
  • Carvone (20-60%)
  • Dihydrocarvone
  • 1,8-cineole
  • p-cymene
  • Limonene
• Also includes flavonoids

Dill: Medicinal Uses and Contraindications

• Traditionally, dill is used to treat dyspepsia, gastritis, flatulence and stomachache.
• It is also a component in "Gripe Water", used to treat infant flatulence
• Historically, extracts have been used in contraceptives. This is not recommended during pregnancy.

Ammi visnaga Constituents

• Contains y-pyrones (furanochromone derivatives) (up to 4%).
  • Khellin (0.3–1.2%)
  • Ammiol
  • Khellol
  • Khellinin (0.3–1.0%)
• Coumarins (0.2-0.5%)
  • Visnadin (0.3%)
• Essential oil with camphor, a-terpineol, linalool
• Fixed oil up to 18%

Chemical Test for Khellin

• A chemical test for Khellin (0.1 gm powdered khella+5 ml water) produces a rose-red color when combined with pellet KOH.

Precautions (Ammi majus)

• Exposure to UV light should be avoided during treatment; khellin causes photosensitivity.

Ammi majus Constituents

• Furanocoumarins:
• Xanthotoxin (8-methoxypsoralen, ammoidin) up to 1.15%
• Imperatorin (ammidin) up to 0.75%
• Bergapten (majudin, 5-MOP) upto 1.88%

Detection of Furanocoumarins and y-pyrones

• Detect Furanocoumarins using UV light; they show blue fluorescence
• Detect y-pyrones (furanochromones) in a similar method, detecting no blue fluorescence.

Medicinal Uses of Ammi majus, Ammi visnaga

• Treatment for skin disorders (e.g., vitiligo, psoriasis).
• PUVA therapy (psoralen plus UVA).

Contraindications of Ammi majjus, Ammi visnaga

• Patients with photosensitivity, cataracts, and squamous cell cancer.
• Pregnant women and nursing mothers.
• Children under the age of 12.
• People with liver and kidney diseases, HIV infections, other autoimmune diseases.

Warnings for Ammi majus, Ammi visnaga

• Lotions should be applied only under a physician's supervision
• Should avoid direct or indirect sunlight for at least 24 hours prior to treatment, and 48 hours following treatment.
• Protective clothing and/or sunscreen should be worn.
• Foods that contain these coumarins (e.g., lemons, parsley, celery, carrots) should be avoided.

Drug Interactions

• Toxicity from furanocoumarins can increase if administered alongside other photosensitizing agents (e.g., sulfanilamides, tetracyclines, thiazides).

Explore the fascinating world of medicinal fruits and their various active constituents. Learn about specific families such as Apiaceae and discover examples of fruits containing volatile oils and other beneficial compounds. This quiz will deepen your understanding of how these fruits can contribute to health and wellness.