Belimbing

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1065, Page 134

Belimbing (Averrhoa bilimbi)

It is also known as Bilimbi (English), Belimbing (Malaysian), Kamias (Philippine), Trop (Cambodian), Taling pling (Thai), Khe Ta (Vietnamese), Bimbli (Hindi)

A. Taxonomical information

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Oxalidales

Family: Oxalidaceae

Genus: Averrhoa

Species: A. bilimbi

B. Morphological / distribution/ habitat info

Morphology

A. bilimbi is a small to medium-sized tropical tree that may grow to a height of 5–10 meters when grown in places like Singapore. Compound (odd-pinnate) leaves with 11–37 leaflets, each of which is normally 2–10 cm long and 1–4 cm broad. Cauliflorous blooms are carried on the stem and branches in suspended clusters (panicles) of many tiny five-petaled flowers that are sometimes reddish-tinged or purplish-red in colour. The fruit is usually 4–10 cm long and has an oblong to ellipsoidal shape, occasionally slightly angled, and is green when immature, becoming yellowish-green when mature. The pulp has a high concentration of oxalic acid and is juicy and sour. (Santos et al., 2014)

Distribution

It is native to Southeast Asia, especially the Maluku island and being cultivated to tropical region

Habitat Info

It thrive in the tropical climates and need the high humidity and consistent temperatures.

C. Traditional Uses / TK-related info

Agent in Cooking

In Malay culture is being used in cooking.

Traditional Medicine (Wai Kwan Lau et al., 2019)

In traditional herbal medicine, parts of the tree such as the leaves, bark, and fruit are used for folk remedies: for example, the sour fruit juice is used for digestive complaints, as a tonic, or in some local uses for skin or wound applications.

D. Any related scientific studies, such as ecology/ conservation status/threats/diversity

Bioactive Compounds

Bilimbi contains various bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, which can act as antimicrobials, antifungals, and other compounds (Rohmah et al., 2020)

IUCN status

Least Concern

Being Used as Medicine

In subtropical countries, that can treat the for diabetes and hypertension

References

Alhassan, A. M., & Ahmed, Q. U. (2016). Averrhoa bilimbi Linn.: A review of its ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology. Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences, 8(4), 265–271. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-7406.199342

Mannan, Md. A., Chandra, L., Nazmul Islam, A. B. M., Hossain, Md. S., Kudrat-E-Zahan, Md., & Kida, T. (2020). Averrhoa bilimbi: A Prospective Source of Bioactive Compounds against Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities. Asian Journal of Chemistry, 33(1), 179–184. https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2021.22933

Rohmah, E. A., Subekti, S., & Rudyanto, M. (2020). Larvicidal activity and histopathological effect of Averrhoa bilimbi fruit extract on Aedes aegypti from Surabaya, Indonesia. Journal of Parasitology Research, 2020, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8866373

Santos, H. H. D., Matos, V. P., Albuquerque, A. P. da C., Sena, L. H. de M., & Ferreira, E. G. B. de S. (2014). Morfologia de frutos, sementes e plântulas de Averrhoa bilimbi L. oriundas de dois estágios de maturação. Ciência Rural, 44(11), 1995–2002. https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20130992

Wai Kwan Lau, Ahmad, A., Abdul Hadi Ariffin, Muhd Zulkarnain Mahmud, Mohd, Azimah Amanah, Mohamad Faiz Hamzah, & Zainuddin Zafarina. (2019). Novel discovery of Averrhoa bilimbi ethanolic leaf extract in the stimulation of brown fat differentiation program in combating diet-induced obesity. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-019-2640-3

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