Details Top

Internal ID UUID64401711dfce4323315069
Scientific name Dillenia indica
Authority L.
First published in Sp. Pl. : 535 (1753)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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Important notice
  • Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
  • Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
  • Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
  • Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.

According to Choudhury et al. (2013), the Garo people of Bangladesh boil sliced fruit of Dillenia indica in water for 10–15 minutes and drink the decoction to stop diarrhoea. In the Naga communities of Manipur, India, Sharma et al. (2016) report that fresh leaves are steeped in hot water for 5–10 minutes and the infusion is taken to soothe a cough. The Khasi of Meghalaya also crush the same leaves and apply the mash directly to swollen joints as a poultice (Sarkar et al., 2014), while Kiew (2020) describes northern Thai folk practice of simmering the fruit in water for twenty minutes to make a mild tea used to reduce fever.

For a simple, safe home preparation, use about 30 g of fresh fruit (or 15 g of dried slices) and add it to 250 ml of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 12 minutes. Remove from heat and let the decoction steep for an additional 5 minutes before straining. A single cup can be drunk two or three times a day. Avoid the tea during pregnancy because high‑dose fruit preparations may stimulate uterine activity, and excessive amounts can cause stomach irritation.

The fruit is rich in vitamin C, hydrolyzable tannins such as gallotannins, and flavonoids like quercetin and kaempferol, while the leaves contain citric and malic acids. These compounds account for the astringent, antioxidant and mild anti‑inflammatory actions that support the traditional use of the infusion for coughs and the decoction for diarrhoea.

Modern research is catching up: Kumar et al. (2015) showed that aqueous extracts of the fruit reduce experimentally induced diarrhoea in rats, and a 2022 review highlighted the potential of its tannins for anti‑inflammatory activity. The fruit remains a staple in local markets—sold as fresh produce, jams and pickles—and the leaf tea continues to be prepared in village homes, keeping the ethnobotanical heritage of Dillenia indica alive while scientists explore its therapeutic possibilities.

General Uses Top

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Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
The fruit pulp of Dillenia indica is used as a souring agent in culinary preparations, including chutneys, curries, pickles, and traditional fish dishes in parts of South and Southeast Asia. It is processed into ketchup-like products and blended into sauces, fruit jellies, and syrups. The fruit is characterized by high acidity and mucilaginous polysaccharides, which provide a distinctive sourness and thickening/gelling properties suitable for savory products. In some regions it is also candied. These attributes make the pulp useful as an ingredient for souring and texturizing rather than as a primary flavor carrier.

Properties relevant to use:
The pulp exhibits high titratable acidity and substantial mucilage, conferring sourness and thickening/gelling capacity suitable for culinary applications. Seed and pulp contain pectic substances that support jellying. This chemical profile enables the pulp to function as a souring agent and a natural thickener/stabilizer in jams, chutneys, ketchup-like sauces, and similar products.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Dillenia elongata Miq. Fl. Ned. Ind. 1(2): 12 (1858)
Dillenia indica f. elongata (Miq.) Miq. Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavi 4: 79 1868
Dillenia speciosa Thunb. Trans. Linn. Soc. London 1: 200 (1791)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English elephant apple
English hondapara tree
English indian catmon
English chulta
Arabic ديلنيا هندية
Assamese ঔ টেঙা
Bengali চাইলতে
Bengali চালিতা
Bengali চালতা
German indischer rosenapfel
Persian سیب فیلی
Finnish intiandillenia
Hungarian pompás dillénia
Indonesian jongi
Japanese ビワモドキ
jv apel gajah
Kannada ಬೆಟ್ಟಕಣಿಗಲು
Korean 딜레니아
Malayalam മലമ്പുന്ന
mnw သပြု၊ တၞံ
Burmese သပြုပင်
Oriya ଓଉ
Polish ukęśl indyjska
Polish ukęśla indyjska
Portuguese maçã de elefante
Portuguese Árvore da pataca
Portuguese Árvore do dinheiro
Portuguese Árvore-da-pataca
Portuguese Árvore-do-dinheiro
Portuguese dilênia
Portuguese flor de abril
Portuguese flor-de-abril
Portuguese maça de elefante
Portuguese maçã-de-elefante
Russian Слоновое яблоко
Slovenian slonje jabolko
Tamil உவா மரம்
Tamil யானை ஆப்பிள்
Tamil பாங்கர்
Tamil ஓமை
Telugu రేవడిచెట్టు
Telugu పెద్దకళింగ
Thai มะตาด
Urdu سیب فیلی
Chinese 第倫桃
Chinese 五桠果

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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No germination or propagation data was added yet.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Africa
    • West-central Tropical Africa
      • Gulf Of Guinea Islands
    • Western Indian Ocean
      • Comoros
      • Mauritius
      • Réunion
  • Asia-tropical
    • Indian Subcontinent
      • Assam
      • Bangladesh
      • East Himalaya
      • India
      • Nepal
      • Sri Lanka
    • Indo-China
      • Andaman Islands
      • Cambodia
      • Laos
      • Myanmar
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Malesia
      • Borneo
      • Jawa
      • Malaya
      • Philippines
      • Sumatera
  • Southern America
    • Caribbean
      • Cuba
      • Trinidad-Tobago
      • Windward Islands
    • Western South America
      • Ecuador

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000647564
USDA Plants DIIN6
Tropicos 10900002
INPN 447112
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:316684-1
The Plant List kew-2768269
Open Tree Of Life 244320
NCBI Taxonomy 4378
IUCN Red List 61994577
IPNI 316684-1
iNaturalist 327691
GBIF 5383898
Freebase /m/02x8lf0
EPPO DLNIN
EOL 396514
USDA GRIN 14122
Wikipedia Dillenia_indica
CMAUP NPO21691

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by various ethnic tribes of Mizoram, India Ralte L, Singh YT PLoS One 10-May-2024
PMCID:PMC11086894
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0302792
PMID:38728345
Electrospun nanofibers synthesized from polymers incorporated with bioactive compounds for wound healing Palani N, Vijayakumar P, Monisha P, Ayyadurai S, Rajadesingu S J Nanobiotechnology 27-Apr-2024
PMCID:PMC11056076
doi:10.1186/s12951-024-02491-8
PMID:38678271
Development and Performance Analysis of an Automatic Core Cutter for Elephant Apple (Dillenia indica L.) Processing Saikia D, Kesavan R, Sharma M, Inbaraj BS, Nayak PK, Sridhar K Foods 11-Mar-2024
PMCID:PMC10969683
doi:10.3390/foods13060848
PMID:38540838
Effects of Thermosonication on the Antioxidant Capacity and Physicochemical, Bioactive, Microbiological, and Sensory Qualities of Blackcurrant Juice Qiu X, Su J, Nie J, Zhang Z, Ren J, Wang S, Pei Y, Li X Foods 06-Mar-2024
PMCID:PMC10931099
doi:10.3390/foods13050809
PMID:38472922
Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles by banana pulp extract: Characterizations, antibacterial activity, and bioelectricity generation Ohiduzzaman M, Khan MN, Khan KA, Paul B Heliyon 01-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10848009
doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25520
PMID:38327438
Tailoring the Structural and Optical Properties of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Prepared by an Ecofriendly Green Route Using Plant Extracts Fifere N, Ardeleanu R, Doroftei F, Dobromir M, Airinei A Int J Mol Sci 04-Jan-2024
PMCID:PMC10779659
doi:10.3390/ijms25010681
PMID:38203851
Selenium Nanoparticles: Green Synthesis and Biomedical Application Mikhailova EO Molecules 15-Dec-2023
PMCID:PMC10745377
doi:10.3390/molecules28248125
PMID:38138613
Dynamics of Endophytic Fungal Communities Associated with Cultivated Medicinal Plants in Farmland Ecosystem He C, Meng D, Li W, Li X, He X J Fungi (Basel) 04-Dec-2023
PMCID:PMC10744690
doi:10.3390/jof9121165
PMID:38132766
The presence of wild edible plants and determinants influencing their harvest, consumption, and conservation in south eastern Bhutan Bajgai RC, Bajgai Y, Johnson SB PLoS One 10-Oct-2023
PMCID:PMC10564141
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0285936
PMID:37816046
Comparative transcriptomics reveals divergence in pathogen response gene families amongst 20 forest tree species Lu M, Cao M, Yang J, Swenson NG G3 (Bethesda) 09-Oct-2023
PMCID:PMC10700026
doi:10.1093/g3journal/jkad233
PMID:37812763
Current Overview of Metal Nanoparticles’ Synthesis, Characterization, and Biomedical Applications, with a Focus on Silver and Gold Nanoparticles Burlec AF, Corciova A, Boev M, Batir-Marin D, Mircea C, Cioanca O, Danila G, Danila M, Bucur AF, Hancianu M Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 04-Oct-2023
PMCID:PMC10610223
doi:10.3390/ph16101410
PMID:37895881
Molecular Identification of Juglans Regia Endophyte LTL-G3, Its Antifungal Potential and Bioactive Substances Hao Y, Hui J, Du T, Ge X, Zhai M Iran J Biotechnol 01-Oct-2023
PMCID:PMC10804068
doi:10.30498/ijb.2023.352005.3450
PMID:38269197
Interactions of naturally occurring compounds with antimicrobials Malczak I, Gajda A J Pharm Anal 23-Sep-2023
PMCID:PMC10785267
doi:10.1016/j.jpha.2023.09.014
PMID:38223447
Application of thermosonication for guava juice processing: Impacts on bioactive, microbial, enzymatic and quality attributes Kalsi BS, Singh S, Alam MS, Bhatia S Ultrason Sonochem 07-Sep-2023
PMCID:PMC10506052
doi:10.1016/j.ultsonch.2023.106595
PMID:37699293
Hippophae rhamnoides L. (sea buckthorn) mediated green synthesis of copper nanoparticles and their application in anticancer activity Dadhwal P, Dhingra HK, Dwivedi V, Alarifi S, Kalasariya H, Yadav VK, Patel A Front Mol Biosci 24-Aug-2023
PMCID:PMC10484619
doi:10.3389/fmolb.2023.1246728
PMID:37692067

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Benzenoids / Anthracenes
(10S)-10-[(9R)-4,5-dihydroxy-2-methyl-10-oxo-9H-anthracen-9-yl]-1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methyl-10H-anthracen-9-one 44567184 Click to see 494.50 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Anthracenes / Anthracenecarboxylic acids and derivatives / Anthracenecarboxylic acids
4-hydroxy-9,10-dioxo-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(oxalooxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyanthracene-2-carboxylic acid 11972451 Click to see 518.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Rhein 10168 Click to see 284.22 unknown via CMAUP database
rhein 8-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside 5320961 Click to see 446.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Sennidin A 92826 Click to see 538.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Sennoside A 73111 Click to see C1=CC2=C(C(=C1)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)C(=O)C4=C(C2C5C6=C(C(=CC=C6)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)O)O)O)C(=O)C8=C5C=C(C=C8O)C(=O)O)C=C(C=C4O)C(=O)O 862.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Sennoside C 46173829 Click to see C1=CC2=C(C(=C1)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)C(=O)C4=C(C2C5C6=C(C(=CC=C6)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)O)O)O)C(=O)C8=C5C=C(C=C8O)C(=O)O)C=C(C=C4O)CO 848.80 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Anthracenes / Anthraquinones
8-((6-O-beta-D-Glucopyranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy)-1-hydroxy-3-methoxy-6-methylanthraquinone 5320543 Click to see 608.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Aloe emodin 10207 Click to see 270.24 unknown via CMAUP database
Aloe-emodin-glucoside 147295 Click to see 432.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Chrysophanein 6324923 Click to see 416.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Chrysophanol 10208 Click to see 254.24 unknown via CMAUP database
Physcion 10639 Click to see 284.26 unknown via CMAUP database
Pulmatin 442731 Click to see CC1=CC2=C(C(=C1)O)C(=O)C3=C(C2=O)C=CC=C3OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O 416.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Rheochrysin 168938 Click to see 446.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Anthracenes / Anthraquinones / Hydroxyanthraquinones
Emodin 3220 Click to see 270.24 unknown via CMAUP database
Emodin 1-O-beta-D-glucoside 5319333 Click to see CC1=CC2=C(C(=C1)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)C(=O)C4=C(C2=O)C=C(C=C4O)O 432.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Emodin-8-glucoside 99649 Click to see 432.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Gallic acids
Gallic Acid 370 Click to see 170.12 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Galloyl esters
[(2S)-2,3-dihydroxypropyl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate 51543740 Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C(=O)OCC(CO)O 244.20 unknown via CMAUP database
6-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose 5317463 Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C(=O)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)O)O)O)O 332.26 unknown via CMAUP database
Methyl Gallate 7428 Click to see 184.15 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
9-Hydroxy-5a,5b,8,8,11a-pentamethyl-1-prop-1-en-2-yl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,7a,9,10,11,11b,12,13,13a,13b-hexadecahydrocyclopenta[a]chrysene-3a-carbaldehyde 317607 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C=O 440.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Betulinic Acid 64971 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYMED.2009.07.010
Lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid, 3beta-hydroxy- 2371 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYMED.2009.07.010
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alpha amino acids / L-alpha-amino acids
(2S)-5-amino-2-ammonio-5-oxopentanoate 6992086 Click to see 146.14 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides
1-[1-hydroxy-3-methyl-8-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxynaphthalen-2-yl]ethanone 5319972 Click to see 378.40 unknown via CMAUP database
1-[1,6-dihydroxy-3-methyl-8-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxynaphthalen-2-yl]ethanone 100753 Click to see 394.40 unknown via CMAUP database
2-[[(2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-6-(7-acetyl-8-hydroxy-3-methoxy-6-methylnaphthalen-1-yl)oxy-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methoxy]-2-oxoacetic acid 5321979 Click to see CC1=CC2=CC(=CC(=C2C(=C1C(=O)C)O)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)COC(=O)C(=O)O)O)O)O)OC 480.40 unknown via CMAUP database
2-methyl-4-oxo-7-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromene-5-carboxylic acid 5315687 Click to see 382.30 unknown via CMAUP database
gallic acid 4-O-beta-D-(6'-O-galloy)glucoside 11972354 Click to see 484.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Raspberryketone glucoside 5320521 Click to see 326.34 unknown via CMAUP database
Torachrysone 8-O-Glucoside 11972479 Click to see 408.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Monosaccharides / Hexoses
[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl] (E)-3-phenylprop-2-enoate 11972309 Click to see 310.30 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzopyrans / 1-benzopyrans / Chromones
[(2S)-7-Hydroxy-2-methyl-4-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-5-yl]acetic acid 5319543 Click to see 236.22 unknown via CMAUP database
4H-1-Benzopyran-4-one, 5-acetyl-7-hydroxy-2-methyl- 5315891 Click to see 218.20 unknown via CMAUP database
7-Hydroxy-2-[(2S)-2-hydroxypropyl]-5-methyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one 45272307 Click to see 234.25 unknown via CMAUP database
7-Hydroxy-2-methyl-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-5-acetic acid 14429402 Click to see CC1=CC(=O)C2=C(C=C(C=C2O1)O)CC(=O)O 234.20 unknown via CMAUP database
7-Hydroxy-2-methyl-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-5-carboxylic acid 5315688 Click to see CC1=CC(=O)C2=C(C=C(C=C2O1)O)C(=O)O 220.18 unknown via CMAUP database
Cassiachromone 5319500 Click to see CC1=CC(=O)C2=C(C=C(C=C2O1)O)CC(=O)C 232.23 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Biflavonoids and polyflavonoids
3,3'-Digalloylprocyanidin B2 124016 Click to see C1C(C(OC2=C1C(=CC(=C2C3C(C(OC4=CC(=CC(=C34)O)O)C5=CC(=C(C=C5)O)O)OC(=O)C6=CC(=C(C(=C6)O)O)O)O)O)C7=CC(=C(C=C7)O)O)OC(=O)C8=CC(=C(C(=C8)O)O)O 882.70 unknown via CMAUP database
procyanidin B1 3-O-gallate 12795888 Click to see 730.60 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins / Catechin gallates
(-)-Epicatechin gallate 107905 Click to see C1C(C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C21)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)O)O)O 442.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols
Dillenetin 5487855 Click to see COC1=C(C=C(C=C1)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)OC 330.29 unknown https://doi.org/10.1039/P19750000612
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides
(+)-Catechin-5-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside 6324898 Click to see 452.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
Rutin 5280805 Click to see 610.50 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes
Rhapontigenin 5320954 Click to see 258.27 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes / Stilbene glycosides
[(2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-6-[4-[(E)-2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]phenoxy]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methyl 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate 5322088 Click to see 542.50 unknown via CMAUP database
resveratrol-4'-O-(2''-O-galloyl)-glucopyranoside 10325054 Click to see 542.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Resveratroloside 5322089 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C=CC2=CC(=CC(=C2)O)O)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O 390.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Rhaponticin 637213 Click to see 420.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins
1,2,6-Tri-O-Galloyl-Beta-D-Glucose 440308 Click to see 636.50 unknown via CMAUP database
1,6-bis-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose 440221 Click to see 484.40 unknown via CMAUP database
1,6-di-O-galloyl-2-O-cinnamoyl-beta-D-glucose 6325082 Click to see 614.50 unknown via CMAUP database
beta-D-Glucopyranose, 2-((2E)-3-phenyl-2-propenoate) 1-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate) 5315898 Click to see 462.40 unknown via CMAUP database
beta-Glucogallin 124021 Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C(=O)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O 332.26 unknown via CMAUP database

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