Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants
Cape Gooseberry
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Physalis
Botanical name: Physalis minima Linn.
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Sanskrit: Mrdukunjika, Upakunjika, Cheerapotha
English: Cape Gooseberry, Goldenberry, Husk Cherry, Peruvian Ground Cherry, Poha, Poha Berry
Hindi: Chirpoti, Bandpariya
Malayalam: Njottanjodiyan, Njodinjotta, Muttampuli
Genus: Physalis
Botanical name: Physalis minima Linn.
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Sanskrit: Mrdukunjika, Upakunjika, Cheerapotha
English: Cape Gooseberry, Goldenberry, Husk Cherry, Peruvian Ground Cherry, Poha, Poha Berry
Hindi: Chirpoti, Bandpariya
Malayalam: Njottanjodiyan, Njodinjotta, Muttampuli
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Cape Gooseberry is a pantropical annual herb 20-50 cm high at its maturity. Leaves are soft and smooth (not furry), with entire or jagged margins, 2.5-12 cm long. Cream to yellowish flowers are followed by edible yellowish fruit encapsulated in papery cover which turns straw brown and drops to the ground when the fruit is fully ripe.
The plant tends to have a weedy character, often found growing in disturbed sites. The whole plant of Country gooseberry is used to cure the irritation caused in the stomach due to krait bite.