Botanical name : Carissa carandas Auct.
(Carissa congesta Wight)
Family : Apocynaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Karamarda, Dimdima, Avighna, Kshiraphala, Karamardaka
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Amla
Guna : Guru, Snigdha
Virya : Ushna
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Black Cherry
Hindi : Karijige
Malayalam : Cherry, Karutta cheri
Distribution – Cultivated throughout India, also growing wild.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
An armed evergreen shrub grows up to 3 meters in height. Leaves simple, opposite, ovate, base chordate, with prominent veins. Flowers in axillary panicles, white and fragrant. Fruits ovoid, single seeded drupes, become black or red when ripe. Thorns are axillary 1-2 cm long and sharp.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated vata, kapha, menorrhagia, leucorrhea, dysmenorrhea, diarrhea, hemorrhages, hemorrhoids, general weakness, gingivitis, tooth ache and bed wet in children.
Useful part : Leaves, Fruits.