Common Name: Goa Butter

General Information

Garcinia indica is a slender evergreen tree with drooping branches; it can grow around 15 metres tall. The bole is usually buttressed[, ].
Often harvested from the wild for its edible fruit and medicinal uses, it is sometimes also cultivated for the fruit and oil[, ]. The dried fruits are often sold for medicinal use in Indian markets[, ].
This species is endemic to India. The population is declining continuously due to habitat loss. There has been a reduction in forest cover over the past three generation lengths (87 years) of greater than 30% that is suspected to have led to a population size reduction of greater than 30%. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2015)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - western India.

Habitat

An understorey tree of coastal and evergreen forests; at elevations up to 700 metres[, ]. Found in forest lands, riversides, and wasteland, usually in evergreen forest.

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	0.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Garcinia indica requires a warm and humid tropical climate. It thrives well in coastal areas receiving over 2,500mm of rainfall, though can tolerate somewhat drier conditions[].
The plant is found wild in lateritic, alluvial soils having depth of around 100cm, and a pH of around 6.7[].
The plant takes around 30 years from seed before it starts producing seed[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. A pleasant, somewhat acid flavour[, ]. They can be eaten raw or made into jellies, syrup and vinegar[]. The dried fruits are used as a flavouring in curries etc, and for making acid-flavoured beverages[]. The fruit is a purple to wine-brown berry around 25 - 40mm in diameter, containing 5 - 8 seeds compressed in an acidic pulp[, ].

The seeds are the source of an oil called 'kokam butter'[, ], which is solid at room temperature. Often used as a food in India, it is also used for adulterating ghee or butter[].

Medicinal

The seed butter (oil) is used as a remedy in the treatment of dysentery and mucous diarrhoea[].
The butter is applid externally to treat chaps and fissures of the lips[]. It has a soothing action and is used in the treatment of skin diseases[].

The ripe fruit is antiscorbutic, anthelmintic, cardiotonic, cholagogue, cooling, demulcent and emollient[, ]. The aqueous extraction from the fruits of this species is also used in order to reduce anxiety[].

The root, bark, fruit and the seed oil are used to treat piles, abdominal disorders, mouth diseases and worm infestations[].

Other Uses

The seed contains 23 - 26% oil, which remains solid at room temperature[, ]. It is used in the preparation of confectionery, medicines and cosmetics.

A thick, usually resinous latex is obtained from the bark, branches and fruits[].

An extract of the fruit is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a humectant[].
The fatty oil obtained from the seeds s is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].

The greyish-white wood is hard[, ].

Propagation

Seed - we have no specific information on this species, but the seed of most members of the genus can be slow to germinate, even if sown fresh, often taking 6 months or more[].

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