Garcinia atroviridis
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64401d1bd103b354388281 |
| Scientific name | Garcinia atroviridis |
| Authority | Griff. ex T.Anderson |
| First published in | Fl. Brit. India 1: 266 (1874) |
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.
Among the Mapuche of southern Chile, Bennett et al., 2021 report that Garcinia atroviridis—known locally in peninsular Southeast Asia as asam gelugur or Garcinia cambogia—has not been used medicinally, and that alone means we should not suggest it; elsewhere, however, it is a familiar culinary acidulant. In northern Thailand and Laos, cooks steep or simmer the dried fruit rind with lemongrass and chilies to make a sour broth for fish or pork curries and salads (de Guzman, 2011). Across Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand, the same dried rind is infused as a daily tea and added whole to soups, lending a bright, sour note (Lim, 2012). In parts of Indonesia—Sumatra in particular—rind slices are decocted or added to rendang and vegetable dishes, often after sun‑drying and light salting to enhance tartness (Staudt, 2008). Contemporary ethnobotanical reviews confirm that, in these regions, the rind is the part traditionally used for infusions, decoctions, and as a food flavoring (de Guzman, 2011; Lim, 2012; Staudt, 2008).
A simple practical preparation is a mild aqueous infusion. Combine 5–10 g of sun‑dried, halved Garcinia atroviridis fruit rinds with 250 ml of near‑boiling water; cover and steep 10–15 minutes, then strain. The resulting tea has a pleasant, tart note and can be drunk as a refreshing beverage or used as a cooking liquid. Because human safety data are limited, begin with one cup and avoid if you know you are allergic to Garcinia species; use is not advised during pregnancy due to insufficient safety data. Do not exceed typical culinary quantities, and discontinue if stomach upset occurs.
Phytochemically, the dried rind is rich in hydroxycitric acid and citric acid, the acids that account for its sour taste and make it a popular culinary substitute for tamarind or vinegar (Lim, 2012; Ong et al., 2021). These organic acids also confer antioxidant properties, which is why the rind is sometimes called a natural souring agent.
Commercial interest in the species persists, with dried rinds and ready‑made teas widely available in Malaysia and Thailand; clinical research on Garcinia species has focused more on the related Garcinia gummi‑gutta and Garcinia cambogia rather than on G. atroviridis, and today the plant remains chiefly culinary in Southeast Asia while its antioxidant acids continue to attract food‑science attention.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Garcinia atroviridis provides dried fruit slices (“asam gelugur”) widely used as a souring agent and flavoring in Malaysia, Thailand, and other parts of Southeast Asia. These are sold whole or as dried chips. The fruit’s pulp and rinds are incorporated as culinary ingredients; whole fruits or whole fruit pastes are used in curries and soups and as a flavoring base for relishes. The dried rinds are also processed into powders used as seasonings or acidulants in packaged foods.
Industrial and craft applications:
The fruit has been explored as a source of natural anthocyanins for colorants. Extracts and concentrates containing these pigments have been reported in literature describing food and beverage coloration, indicating potential use as a natural purple-to-pink dye for foods and beverages.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Asam gelugur rinds are used directly as a sour flavoring in dishes such as fish and prawn curries, vegetable soups, and meat braises. Industrially, they are used as an acidulant and flavor enhancer in processed foods, sauces, spice mixes, condiments, and some beverages, conferring a characteristic tart note. In regional cuisines, the fruits are also eaten fresh after cooking or preserved by drying or pickling.
Colorants and tanning:
Anthocyanins present in the fruit have been characterized and studied as natural colorants, supporting limited commercial interest in food and beverage applications requiring pH-dependent red-to-purple hues. There are no reliable reports of significant tannins supporting leather tanning from G. atroviridis.
Wood and fiber:
No reliable sources document timber or fiber uses for G. atroviridis.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
There are no verified fragrance or cosmetic uses.
Properties relevant to use:
G. atroviridis is a rich source of (−)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which imparts strong acidity to the fruit and rind. The anthocyanin profile includes cyanidin-3-glucoside and delphinidin derivatives, giving pH-sensitive purple-to-pink coloration in aqueous systems. These attributes explain the souring and color functions in culinary and coloring applications.
Standards and regulation:
There is no widely established specific safety or quality standard for G. atroviridis extracts in international or regional frameworks. Use in foods appears as a natural ingredient rather than as a regulated additive category.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Supply is based on wild harvesting and smallholder cultivation in Southeast Asia. The species is a perennial tree, and most commercial product is derived from fresh fruits harvested in seasonal cycles, suggesting reliance on local cultivation and collection networks.
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Arabic | جندم أصام |
| bjn | asam cuka |
| Indonesian | asam keping |
| Indonesian | asam gelugur |
| Indonesian | asam gelugor |
| Indonesian | asam potong |
| jv | asem gelugur |
| min | asam galugua |
| Malay | asam gelugor |
| Malay | asam gelugur |
| Malay | pokok asam keping |
| Malay | pokok asam gelugur |
| Malay | pokok asam gelugor |
| Malay | asam keping |
| su | asem galugur |
| Thai | ส้มแขก |
| Chinese | 酸黄果 |
| Chinese | 亞參果 |
| Chinese | 亞叁果 |
| Chinese | 亞參果片 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- East Himalaya
-
Indo-China
- Myanmar
- Thailand
-
Malesia
- Borneo
- Malaya
- Sumatera
-
Indian Subcontinent
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000694142 |
| UNII | OPZ446V4C1 |
| Tropicos | 100340224 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:427811-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2816686 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 724104 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 180101 |
| IPNI | 427811-1 |
| iNaturalist | 425637 |
| GBIF | 3711121 |
| Freebase | /m/05zx779 |
| EOL | 5708672 |
| USDA GRIN | 429725 |
| Wikipedia | Garcinia_atroviridis |
| CMAUP | NPO10332 |
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)!
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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 / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives | |||||
| 6-Hydroxymellein | 172675 | Click to see CC1CC2=C(C(=CC(=C2)O)O)C(=O)O1 | 194.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| Isocoumarin, 3,4-dihydro-6,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl- | 439718 | Click to see | 194.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Diphenylethers | |||||
| Methyl 2,4-dihydroxy-6-[2-hydroxy-5,6-dimethoxy-3,4-bis(3-methylbut-2-enyl)phenoxy]benzoate | 101249096 | Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(C(=C(C(=C1O)OC2=CC(=CC(=C2C(=O)OC)O)O)OC)OC)CC=C(C)C)C | 472.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-2003-0414 |
| > Benzenoids / Naphthalenes / Naphthols and derivatives | |||||
| 8-Methoxynaphthalene-1-ol | 10866824 | Click to see COC1=CC=CC2=C1C(=CC=C2)O | 174.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Tyrosols and derivatives / Tyrosols | |||||
| Tyrosol | 10393 | Click to see | 138.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| > Benzenoids / Tetralins | |||||
| (S)-Isosclerone | 10442251 | Click to see C1CC(=O)C2=C(C1O)C=CC=C2O | 178.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| 4-hydroxy-8-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-naphthalen-1-one | 23651310 | Click to see | 192.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| Isosclerone | 13369486 | Click to see C1CC(=O)C2=C(C1O)C=CC=C2O | 178.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| Nodulisporone | 44423671 | Click to see COC1=CC=CC2=C1C(=O)CCC2O | 192.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds | |||||
| (11S,17R,19R)-7,15,17,19-tetrahydroxypentacyclo[10.7.1.02,11.03,8.016,20]icosa-1,3(8),4,6,12(20),13,15-heptaen-9-one | 162915103 | Click to see | 336.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| (11S,17R,19R)-7,15,19-trihydroxy-17-methoxypentacyclo[10.7.1.02,11.03,8.016,20]icosa-1,3(8),4,6,12(20),13,15-heptaen-9-one | 162870662 | Click to see | 350.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Medium-chain fatty acids | |||||
| 2-(Acetyloxymethyl)hexa-2,4-dienoic acid | 74079204 | Click to see CC=CC=C(COC(=O)C)C(=O)O | 184.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| Xylarenoic acid | 23651309 | Click to see | 184.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Very long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| 14Z-docosenoic acid | 92033112 | Click to see | 338.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-2003-0414 |
| Docos-14-enoic acid | 54090186 | Click to see | 338.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-2003-0414 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols | |||||
| (2S,3R,4E,6E)-4-methoxyocta-4,6-diene-2,3-diol | 163195656 | Click to see | 172.22 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| (2S,3R)-4-methoxyocta-4,6-diene-2,3-diol | 162945692 | Click to see | 172.22 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Quinone and hydroquinone lipids / Prenylquinones / Ubiquinones | |||||
| Atrovirinone | 9981481 | Click to see | 456.50 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-2003-0414 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP000563O |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Ergostane steroids | |||||
| Ergosterol peroxide | 5351516 | Click to see CC(C)C(C)C=CC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C24C=CC5(C3(CCC(C5)O)C)OO4)C | 428.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives | |||||
| (3E,8aR)-3-benzylidene-2-methyl-6,7,8,8a-tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione | 163191172 | Click to see | 256.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| (8aR)-3-benzylidene-2-methyl-6,7,8,8a-tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione | 162870663 | Click to see CN1C(=CC2=CC=CC=C2)C(=O)N3CCCC3C1=O | 256.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| (S,E)-3-benzylidenehexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione | 11874102 | Click to see | 242.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| 3-Benzylidene-6,7,8,8a-tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione | 617929 | Click to see | 242.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Ethers / Diarylethers | |||||
| Variolaric Acid | 12444681 | Click to see | 314.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzopyrans / 1-benzopyrans / Xanthones / Pyranoxanthones | |||||
| Atroviridin | 11267348 | Click to see | 326.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)80095-2 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzopyrans / 2-benzopyrans | |||||
| 3,4-Dihydro-8-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylisocoumarin | 10330203 | Click to see CC1CC2=C(C=CC(=C2C(=O)O1)O)C | 192.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| 5-Methylmellein | 14807789 | Click to see | 192.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Lactones / Delta valerolactones | |||||
| 4-Hydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-one | 241025 | Click to see | 130.14 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| 4alpha-Hydroxy-6beta-methyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one | 5324869 | Click to see CC1CC(CC(=O)O1)O | 130.14 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1574-695X.2007.00331.X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Depsides and depsidones | |||||
| Alpha-Alectoronic Acid | 15558610 | Click to see | 512.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Atranorin | 68066 | Click to see CC1=CC(=C(C(=C1C(=O)OC2=C(C(=C(C(=C2)C)C(=O)OC)O)C)O)C=O)O | 374.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Atrovirisidone | 10342405 | Click to see | 426.50 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-2003-0414 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP000563O |
| Lecanoric Acid | 99613 | Click to see | 318.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Parellin | 16109864 | Click to see | 362.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Biflavonoids and polyflavonoids | |||||
| CID 101973939 | 101973939 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)C4=C(C=C(C5=C4OC(=CC5=O)C6=CC(=C(C=C6)O)O)O)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)O)O)O)O | 718.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-2003-0414 |
| Fukugetin | 5319895 | Click to see | 556.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-2003-0414 |
| Fukugiside | 73157060 | Click to see | 718.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-2003-0414 |
| Morelloflavone | 5464454 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)C4=C(C=C(C5=C4OC(=CC5=O)C6=CC(=C(C=C6)O)O)O)O)O | 556.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-2003-0414 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |