Ramphal (Annona glabra) Qualities, Remedies, Research

By Dr Renita D’Souza
Ramphal is a well-known medicinal plant used in many diseases such as cancer, fever, diarrhoea, dysentery, worm infestation and it possess significant wound healing property. Kernel of ramphal seeds are toxic but the seeds are so hard that if they are swallowed may not produce any ill effects. Roots act as drastic purgative.
Read – Sugar Apple Uses, Research, Remedies, Side Effects

Botanical Name – Annona reticulata
Synonyms – Annona humboldtiana, Annona humboldtii
Family – Annonaceae

Vernacular Names

English Name – Netted Custard Apple, Bullock’s heart, Bull’s heart, Sugar apple
Sanskrit Name – Lavani, Krishnabija
Hindi Name – Ramphal, Luvun, Nonai, Ramaphal
Kannada Name – Ramaphala
Gujarati Name – Ramphal
Malayalam Name – Manilanilam
Marathi Name – Ramphal
Tamil Name – Ramachita
Manipuri Name – Sitaphal  
Bengali Name – Nona
Oriya Name – Ramopholo
Konkani Name – Anon
Telugu Name – Ramasitapalam
Portuguese Name – Frutoda-Condessa
Indonesian Name – Buah nona
Malaysian Name – Lonang, Nona kapri
Thailand Name – Noi nong
Spanish Name – Anona colorada, Anona de seso Anona de redecilla, Anona roja, Corazón, Anona rosada, Mamon
French Name – Corossol sauvage, Bois Cachiman, Coeur de boeuf, cachiman

Botanical Description

Annona reticulata is a small tree with numerous lateral branches. Leaves are alternate, oblong, cylindrical, membranous, rounded at the base. Flowers are fragrant, light green externally and pale yellow with a dark-red spot inside at the base. Fruits are symmetrically heart shaped and yellow in color. Seeds are smooth and black in color.

Distribution

Annona reticulata is native to the West Indies and widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. It is widely cultivated in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Part Used

Bark, Fruit, Seeds and Leaves

Remedies

• Crushed leaves have got wound healing property. It is used in both external and internal wound. It can be also applied on boils.
• In Gastritis, decoction of Ramphal leaves is used.
• Unripe fruits of Ramaphala is dried and used in diarrhea and dysentery.
• In worm infestation, leaf juice is used.
• Root bark of Ramphal is used to treat toothache.
  Read – Sitaphal Annona squamosa Remedies: Aphrodisiac, Head Lice

Pharmacological Activities

Annona reticulata possess Anthelmintic, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antiulcer, Antipyretic, Wound healing, Anticancer, Antioxidant, Anti fertility, Antitumor, Abortifacient and Antimicrobial activities.

Nutritional Value of Ramphal

Ramaphala fruit contain water -76.2g, Protein – 1.12 – 1.80g, Lipid -0.33g, Carbohydrates – 18.7g, Fibre – 2.60g, Total acidity- 0.38-0.77g, Energy-56-98 calories, Calcium 21-24.0 mg, Phosphorous- 20-27mg, Iron- 0.4-1.0mg, Vitamin-0.28-mg, Ascorbic acid – 28-32 mg and Fat- 0.26%.

Chemical Constituents

Annona reticulata contains tannins, alkaloids, phenols, glycosides, flavonoids and steroids.

Research

Anticancer – A research study done to explore the antioxidant and anti-cancer potentials of Annona reticulata leaf extract in Colorectal cancer has concluded that the alcoholic leaf extract of Annona reticulata has antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom – Plantae
Class – Angiosperms
Division – Magnolids
Order – Magnoliales
Family – Annonaceae
Genus – Annona
Species – Reticulata
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