Exploration of medicinal properties of fruits for health and nutritional security

It is well known fact that there is side effect of allopathic medicines, therefore people are slowly switching over to Ayurvedic and other traditional system of medicines. Nearly 8000 medicinal plants having curative properties are used for their medicinal and personal hygiene. World is endowed with a rich wealth of medicinal plants. Herbs have always been the principal form of medicines in India and presently they are becoming popular through out the developed world. Medicinal plants also play an important role in the healthy lives of rural people, particularly in remote areas. China is presently the world leader followed by India and other counties in the production of herbal raw material.

In human nutrition and health, fruits, being a ‘protective food’, play an important role for balance diet. They provide not only energy with foods but also protective nutrients like vitamins and minerals. Apart from normal uses many fruits have useful medicinal values for curing diseases like scurvy, night blindness, stomach disorders, bilious problems, diabetes, skin diseases, ophthalmia, haemorrhages, ulcers, etc. Present paper deals with medicinal properties and uses of different parts of some common fruit trees viz. Aonla, Banana, Bael, Ber, Custard apple, Lime, Mango, Pomegranate etc.