Logo

Averrhoa carambola (Oxalidaceae), traditionally known as ‘kamrakh’ and commonly known as star fruit because of its peculiar shape. It has widely been used in Ayurveda, preparations of its fruit and leaves are used to pacify impaired kapha, pitta, skin diseases, pruritus, worm infestations, diarrhoea, vomiting, hemorrhoids, intermittent fever, over-perspiration and general debility. It is also used in traditional medicines in countries like India, China, Philippines, Brazil for various ailments. Although review articles on this plant are already published, but the present attempt is to review and compile all the updated information on botany, phytochemical and pharmacological properties, drug interaction, contraindication and toxicity studies of Averrhoa carambola. These results are very encouraging and indicate that this plant should be studied more extensively to confirm the reproducibility of these results and also to reveal other potential therapeutic effects, along with some “leads” with possible isolation of active biomoieties and their mechanism of action.