title: Nutritional, Medicinal and Toxicological Attributes of Star-Fruits (Averrhoa carambola L.): A Review.
abstract: Plants are very complex organisms that produce medicinally important natural products. The Star-fruit producing plant (Averrhoa carambola L.) is a species of woody plant in the family Oxalidaceae native to the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka; but, cultivated in many parts of the world. Star-fruits are popular tropical fruits and used commonly in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) in India, China, and Brazil to relieve ailments such as chronic headache, fever, cough, gastro-enteritis, diarrhoea, ringworm infections, and skin inflammations. However, this fruit contains high amount of oxalate, which is hazardous for uremic patients, and caramboxin (CBX), which is neurotoxic. The aim of this review is to highlight the nutritional, medicinal and toxicological traits of the star-fruits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, AIMST University, Bedong-Semeling Road, Semeling 08100, Kedah,Malaysia.
authors.forename: Narmataa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muthu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, AIMST University, Bedong-Semeling Road, Semeling 08100, Kedah,Malaysia.
authors.forename: Su Yin
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kia Kien
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Phua
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, AIMST University, Bedong-Semeling Road, Semeling 08100, Kedah,Malaysia.
authors.forename: Subhash Janardhan
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bhore
keywords: Averrhoa carambola L.; medicinal plants; nutrition; oxalic acid; star-fruits; toxicity