Phalsa

Grewia asiatica

Other Names : Grewia asiatica, Grewia subinaequalis, falsa, فالسہ, फ़ालसा, ફાલસા, Hindi: Pharsa, Phalsa, Phulsa, Pharoah, Shukri, Dhamin, Parusha. Beng.- Phalsa, Shukri. Guj.- Phalsa. Kan.-Buttiyudippe, Tadasala. Ma1.- Chadicha. Mar.- Phalsa, Phalsi. Punj.- Phalsa. Tam.- Tadachi, Palisa. Te1.- Putiki,Phutiki, Jana, Nallajana. N.W.P.- Phalsa, harsiya. Oriya- Pharasakoli.Pers.- Falseh. Santhal- Jang olat. Sing.- Dowaniya. Sind.- Pharaho, Phalsa.Urdu-Phalasah. (Bennet, 1987)

Health Benefits and Uses of Phalsa

• In traditional folklore medicine, the fruit has been used as astringent, stomachic and cooling agent. When unripe, it has been reported to alleviate inflammation and was administered in respiratory, cardiac and blood disorders, as well as in fever. Root and bark has been prescribed for rheumatism and its infusion used as a demulcent. The leaves were applied on skin eruptions. A number of therapeutic research was carried out on different part of this plant like fruits, leaves, stem etc. The plant possess antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihyperglycaemic, radioprotective, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, antifertility, antifungal, analgesic, antipyeretic and antiviral activities.
• In traditional folklore medicine, the fruit has been used as astringent, stomachic and cooling agent.
• When unripe, it has been reported to alleviate inflammation and was administered in respiratory, cardiac and blood disorders, as well as in fever.
• Root and bark has been prescribed for rheumatism and its infusion used as a demulcent. The leaves were applied on skin eruptions. Number of therapeutic research carried out on different part of this plant like fruits, leaves, stem etc.
• The plant has been reported to possess antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihyperglycaemic, radioprotective, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, antifertility, antifungal, antilagesic, antipyeretic and antiviral activities. Above mentioned studies mostly addressed the basic chemical and pharmacological characteristics of phalsa fruit. Detailed studies are needed for identifying and quantifying bioactive constituents of every part of plant responsible for tagged activities. There is need to develop new varieties with big fruits having greater yield, improved quality, sweetness, flavor and which can be grown in colder regions also.
• Antioxidant Activity : Grewia asiatica has a high content of antioxidants like vitamin C, total phenolics, flavonoids, tannins and anthocyanins.
• Cancer : Aqueous extracts of leaves and fruits showed significant anticancer activity against liver cancer and breast cancer.
• Antimicrobial Activity : G. asiatica leaves possess antimicrobial potential and are therefore used to treat skin rashes and pustular eruptions.
• Antiviral Activity : Sangita and coworkers [63] reported the antiviral activity of an extract of G. asiatica leaves against Urdbean Leaf Crinkle Virus (ULCV).
• Antihyperglycemic and Antidiabetic Activity : Ethanolic extracts of fruit, stem bark and leaves of G. asiatica showed antihyperglycemic activity in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rabbits.
• Anti-Hyperlipidemic Activity.
• Analgesic activity.
• Antipyretic Activity
• Anti-Inflammatory Activity
• Antimalarial and Antiemetic Activities
• Antiplatelet Activity
• Methanolic extract of leaves possessed nematicidal (against Helicotylenchus indicus), insecticidal (against Tribolium castaneum, Callosbruchus analis and Rhyzopertha dominica), phytotoxic (against Lemna minor), cytotoxic (against Artemia salina) and larvicidal (against Haemonchus contortus) activities.

References

• Nutritional and medicinal potential of Grewia subinaequalis DC. (syn. G. asiatica.) (Phalsa) Jyoti Sinha*, Shalini Purwar, Satya Kumar Chuhan and Gyanendra Rai - Centre of Food Technology, University of Allahabad, India.
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6270019/