Citrus Medica Linn. ( in Sanskrit language : Mathulunga, Beejapura)

 

Citron fruit looks like a big lemon, with very thick skin with very less inner pulp content. Its fruit peel, seed, pulp etc., are used in Ayurvedic treatment. 

It is widely used for treating abdominal colic, digestive disorders, piles etc. It is called Madiphala, Matulunga, Beejapura etc.

In  Ayurveda it is considered as widely used in the treatment. It is used in several Gastrointestinal disorders like gastric ulcers, abdominal colic, digestive disturbance, piles, mal-absorption, IBS etc.

The fruit is rich in vitamin C and hence it boosts the immune system. It plays a key role in formation of collagen, thereby improving skin elasticity and reducing wrinkles. Hence it helps in maintaining the health and luster of the skin.

The fruits are rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron and carotene contents and hence helpful to restore the health of the bone, blood and muscle tissues. Also it will safeguard the organs.

Citrus medica Linn. belonging to the Rutaceae family, has been used for centuries in medicine for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antihyper glycemic properties

The phytochemicals identified in C. medica can be classified into nutrient compounds, such as vitamins, essential amino acids, non-essential amino acids, and minerals, and non-nutritive compounds, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenes, and coumarins.

The peel is richer in water-soluble vitamins than in pulp, especially in terms of vitamins B6, B1, and B2, 

In addition to vitamin C, Citrus medica is also rich in Vitamin B, minerals (mainly present in the fruit peel and pulp), and non-essential amino acids

Antioxidants are compounds that are able to neutralize free radicals, which can damage the body’s cells. The C. medica has significant antioxidant properties due to the presence of an excellent antioxidant, ascorbic acid, in addition to known phenolic compounds, flavonoids, carotenoids, and heteropolysaccharides, which contribute to antioxidant capacity in citrus fruits. 

Bacteria may develop resistance to conventional drugs; therefore, there is an increasing need to find new antimicrobial agents. Medicinal plants are rich sources of bioactive compounds which also display antimicrobial activities. Among the many biological properties of C. medica, its antimicrobial properties are undoubtedly the most heavily investigated, probably due to the strong presence of phytochemicals, such as citral, linalool, and limonene which are endowed with antimicrobial effects.

The citron C. medica is rich in flavonoids, such as hesperidin, naringin, and apigenin, which possess strong anti-inflammatory activities.

C. medica can be considered an excellent candidate for treating various pathologies, mainly related to inflammation, oxidative stress, and microbial infection.