Gin berry, Jamaica mandarine orange, orangeberry, village rue, Glycosmis pentaphylla

Glycosmis pentaphylla is commonly known as gin berry, Jamaica mandarine orange, orangeberry,
village rue. It is widely found in Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malayan, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. It is cultivated throughout Pakistan and its wood is used for making tools, handles and tent pegs.

Glycosmis pentaphylla is small glabrous tree or shrub with 3-5-foliolate leaves. Its leaflets  are glandular-punctate and sessile. Calyx lobes are ovate, with scarious margins. Petals are white, free, orbicular and imbricate. Ovary is 5-locular, glabrous while style is short. It contains Carbalexin A, Carbazole, Glycolone, Glycophylone, Glycophymoline, Glycosminine, Glycosolone, Glycozolidal, Glycozolidine, Glycozoline, Glypentoside A, GlypentosideB, Glypentoside C, Homoglycosolone, Noracronycine and Seguinoside F.

Medicinal Properties and Uses

Glycosmis pentaphylla is used for cough, rheumatism, anemia and jaundice. Stem bark paste of Glycosmis pentaphylla is applied to cure rheumatic pain, pounded bark applied on wounds and its wood is used in snakebite. Root decoction taken against fever and stomachache.Pultice of roots of Glycosmis pentaphylla and Sida acuta applied on mumps. Root paste is used to cure cold, cough, asthma and root powder is used for deworming in children. A decoction of roots of Dillenia indica with roots of Glycosmis pentaphylla and Litsea monopetala given in biliousness. Crushed fruits and
cumin decoction in the treatment of dysentery; pounded seeds given with hot water in cholera. Leaves used in fever, liver complaints and as vermifuge; pounded in coconut oil rubbed on the body as renovating; leaf paste applied for gout, eczema, skin diseases and swellings. A paste of leaves and ginger used to cure eczema and skin affections. Leaf extract taken for piles and leaves and flowers made into a paste consumed with ghee for gastric complaints.It has Larvicidal, insecticide, insect repellent activity against mosquitoes.

Scientific Names and Synonyms:

Glycosmis pentaphylla is synonymly known as Bursera nitida Fern.-Vill.,  Chionotria monogyna Walp.,  Chionotria rigida Jack,  Glycosmis arborea (Roxb.) DC.,  Glycosmis arborea var. linearifoliolata V.Naray.,  Glycosmis chylocarpa Wight & Arn., Glycosmis madagascariensis Corrêa ex Risso,  Glycosmis pentaphylla var. linearifoliolis Tanaka,  Glycosmis quinquefolia Griff.,  Glycosmis retzii M.Roem.,  Glycosmis rigida (Jack) Merr.,  Limonia arborea Roxb.,  Limonia pentaphylla Retz.,  Myxospermum chylocarpum (Wight & Arn.) M. Roem., 

Common Names:

in Cambodia: dom phlang
in China: shan xiao ju
in India: amam, ana, anam, annthi-saar, ashshoura, ashseora, asva shakota, asvasakhotah, ban jamir, ban-nimbu (= wild lemon), ban nimbu, chagol-ladi, chaul dhowa, chauldhua, chingchuai-araung, dieng kasiar, dieng sohsning, gilugu, girgiti, girgitti, godugu, golugu, gongi, gonji, gonjipandu, gulunga, gunaamani, gunji, gurbheli, guroda, guroda gida, gurupaade, guruvade, guruvadu, hengena-poka, hengnapoka, hiun-mucha, jami-reng-remg-araung, jangama, jangamma, kasarkana, kattu-k-konci, kattukkonci, kirmira, konchi, konci, kondagolugu, kondagulunga, konde gilugu, konji, konji-chedi, kotta sedi, kula pannai, kulappannai, kulpanai, kupiluh, kuttippaanal, kuttippanal, kuyanvo, maanikyana gida, maenaki, malaikuliki, malakulukki, malampanal, mankali, matibel, menki, otamadika, otamadike, paanal, panacceti, panal, pandill, panel, panthele, paparate, pilru potala, pleg-ik-araung, potali, sirumullipatchilai, saudo, tanshonk, theng-lauksau-araung, thengpi-tung-meng, tultha-poka, vaademallige, vanamimbuka, vedemadige, wau-chaura-a-araung
in Indonesia: gongseng, jerukan, totoan
in Laos: om chune, som sum
Malayan names: kenapeh, merapi, nerapi, nyerapeh, terapai, terapeh, terapi
in Pakistan: ban nimbu
in Philippines: gingging
in Sri Lanka: dodan-pana, kula pannai
Malay names: nerapi, terapeh