Olive (Chorphon) has myriad medicinal benefits

Niranjan Oinam *

The olive fruit or 'Chorphon', as is locally known in Manipur :: Pix - Chronicle News Service

The olive fruit or 'Chorphon', as is locally known in Manipur, is one of the most consumed fruits in the state. However, beyond its delectable taste, many seem unaware of the benefits of the fruit plant s medicinal properties and its potential uses in treatment. So, it is worth exploring the lesser-known properties and benefits of the fruit.

In an interview with The People's Chronicle, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), North East Institute of Science and Technology, Branch Laboratory chief scientist Prof Huidrom Birkumar said that the olive plant is known as Ceylon Olive or Wild Olive Tree or Rosary Nut or Utrasum Bead Tree in English.

Its scientific or botanical name is Elaeocarpus serratus L or Elaeocarpus adenophylus Wall or by other names as Elaeocarpus ganitrus Roxb ex G.Don, Ganitrus roxburghii Wight, Misipus serratus Raf. and Monocera serrata (L.) Turcz, and comes under the Elaeocarpaceae family.

Although the olive plant growing in Manipur is called Elaeocarpus ganitrus, some botanists have stated that it is vastly different from the Rudraksha, worn by Hindu religion followers. Despite being called Rudraksham in Malayalam, it is not the Rudraksha plant.

Most botanists say that the Rudraksha plant is Elaeocarpus ganitrus, but the Rudraksha worn on the necks is made from the Elaeocarpus species, he added.

The chief scientist continued that the olive plant grows naturally in tropical areas. One report states that the olive plant originated in Sri Lanka, but is majorly found growing in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Indo-China region including Myanmar, Indonesia and Malaysia.

In India, the plant grows in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and northeast region including Assam and Manipur, and also in low lying areas of the Himalayan region, as per reports.

According to Botanical Survey of India, seven types of olive plants grow in Manipur.

They are
o Elaeocarpus braceanus G.Watt, ex CB Clarke,
o Elaeocarpus floribundus Blume.
o Elaeocarpus lanceifolius Roxb.,
o Elaeocarpus prunifolius Hook.f.,
o Elaeocarpus serratus L,
o Elaeocarpus tectorius (Lour) Poiret, and
o Elaeocarpus varunua Buck.Ham.

Prof Birkumar further said the main components of the olive plant include Myricitrin, Mearnsetion 3-0-b-D-glucopyranoside, Mearnsitrin, and Tamarixetin 3-0-a-L-rhamnopyranoside. The plant contains high quantity of starch and sugar, but is low in protein and iron contents. The fruit is consumed widely all over the world, with the ripe fruits eaten raw or mixed with sugar.

It is also steamed and eaten (heingan-ambon). In Manipur, the fruit is cooked and served as one of the dishes in a feast. The slightly ripe raw fruits dabbed in salt are relished by kids.

He then said that the leaves of the plant are grinded into a paste and used for massage as part of the treatment of rheumatism, as per some reports. The paste is also useful in treating bug bites including bee sting.

If a person suffers from diarrhoea or dysentery, he/she can drink a glass of finely sliced olives, which have been soaked in water for around two hours and blended with common salt twice a day as treatment. The bark and roots of the plant could be boiled in water and the liquid used as shampoo to deal with dandruff.

In addition, the paste formed by grinding the leaves of olives could be used in treatment of certain skin diseases like eczema and other fungal infections. There have also been reports of individuals with respiratory issues benefitting from eating ground leaves of olive, he elaborated.