Range. Tropical Asia. Cultivated all over Myanmar up to altitudes of 1220 m.

Uses. Known for a sweet and slightly salty taste, giving strength and controlling bile, the flowers, seeds, roots and especially the fruits are used in medicinal prepa­rations.

Flower: Crushed and ingested as a cure for cholera.

Fruit: Has restorative properties important in the treatment of weaknesses from lung disease. The ripe fruit promotes bowel movements, cleanses the bladder, and alleviates diseases of the blood. The juice is used to stop bleeding, vomiting of blood, and otherwise excret­ing blood, and it is given for epilepsy, strokes, and in the treatment of insanity. It is also given, together with a small amount of shein-kho (Gardenia resinifera) and wheat ash (obtained from burning grains in closed receptacles so more of the structure is retained), to alleviate bladder inflammation and dissolve kidney  stones.

Seed: Used for deworming.

Root: A mixture of root powder and hot water is taken for coughing, bronchitis, and asthma.

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Origin:
Cultivated largely in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Bihar.

Action:
Leaves—cooling, juice rubbed on bruises.
Fruit decoction— laxative, diuretic, nutritious, styptic (given for internal haemorrhages and diseases of the respiratory tract.)
Juice of fruit— used for treating epilepsy, insanity and other nervous diseases.
The ash of fruit rind—applied on painful swellings.
Seeds—anthelmintic.

1) DeFilipps, Robert A.; Krupnick, Gary A. / PhytoKeys, v. 102. - - p. 1 - 314,  2018.

2) Khare, C.P./ Indian Medicinal Plants. -- Nueva Dheli: Springer, 2007 . - p. 836.