Western Ghats Kokum Foundation - Organic Farming Association of ...

considered as a potential replacements of synthetic colours because of their bright
attractive hue and water solubility that allows their incorporation into aqueous food
systems; they may also posses health benefits.
4.8. Hydroxycitric acid (HCA)
One of the ingredient in Kokum is Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), is a anti-obesity agent. It
suppresses the fatty acid synthesis, lipogenisis, food intake and induces the weight loss.
Fruit reduces fat, cools the body, purifies blood and lowers cholesterols. The bioactive
phytochemical responsible for these attributes is Para - hydroxycitric acid (Para -HCA) and
is found in abundance ranging from 10-30% in the rind of dried fruit of kokum.
5.Conclusions:
Garcinia indica (dried rind known as ‘kokum’) is an Indian spice used in many parts
of the country for making several vegetarian and non-vegetarian ‘curry’ preparations,
Kokum powder, Kokum sarbat mixture, kokum solkadhi. The fruits are steeped in sugar
syrup to make ‘amrut kokum’, a healthy soft drink to relieve sunstroke, which is popular
during summer. It is a traditional home remedy in case of flatulence, heat strokes and
infections Many therapeutic effects of the fruit include its usefulness as an infusion, in skin
ailments such as rashes caused by allergies; treatment of burns, scalds and chaffed skin; to
relieve sunstroke; remedy for dysentery and mucous diarrhoea; an appetizer and a good
liver tonic; to improve appetite and to allay thirst; as a cardiotonic and for bleeding, piles,
dysentery, tumours and heart diseases. Utilization of the advanced products like HCA,
Garcinol, wine, purified pigments and others processes would create more domestic and
international demand of kokum.
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Resource Book on Kokum (Garcinia indica Choisy)
Western Ghats Kokum Foundation, Panaji - Goa