The phalsa is native to India and Southeast Asia. It is cultivated commercially mainly in Pakistan particularly in Punjab and in south Punjab of Indian area and encompassing zones of Bombay city. It has been cultivated in Philippines since 1941.
Only a few specimens have been planted in the New World, for example, at the former Federal Experiment Station, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and the Agricultural Research and Education Center, Homestead, Florid. Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan, Philippines, Siri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam
Introduction:
Phalsa (Grewia asiatica L.) known as ‘star apple’ belongs to family Tilliaceae. This family contains 41 genera and 400 species. In the family Tilliaceae, only one genus, Grewia, yields edible fruit. The main type of any significance is G. subinaequalis DC. (Synonym. G. asiatica), since quite a while ago in literature as G. asiatica L. The plant is called falsa in Pakistan.
Phalsa is known as “palsa” in Persian dialect and in Sindhi dialect it is privately called as “pharwo” or “pharwan”.it is a minor crop in Pakistan. If we analyze the botany of its plant, it looks like a bush growing to 8 m tall Phalsa leaves are round and small in shape that are 15 cm long and 18 cm wide. Its flowers colors are mild yellow and found in bunches. phalsa is round with its width of 1-2 cm and about 0.5-2.5 gram in weight.
Phalsa is the product of tropical nations however it becomes both in tropical and subtropical atmospheres. is does best in districts having various summer and winter seasons, its plants have capacity to oppose against ice. Adequate daylight and warm or hot temperatures are obligatory for fruit ripening, development of appropriate fruit color, and good safe to eat quality.
The temperature should be as high as 440C. Can be developed on an extensive variety of soils, yet soil richness must not be extremely poor. Proper soil pH is 6.1 to6.5. It is minor fruit in Pakistan and is being cultivated on an area of 1170 ha with annual production of about 3848
Medicinal value:
The consumable piece of natural product changes from 69 to 93%. Phalsa includes gainful supplements which are proteins, sugars, fats, minerals, filaments, calcium, iron and phosphate. Phalsa is entirely perishable. Phalsa, in Pakistan is viewed as an intriguing food and is eaten raw with salt or is drunk as juice. Hence, individuals in Pakistan set up its juice and consumed as a table fruit by the people of all age group during hot summers.
People eat it as it is by adding a little salt and black pepper. It is a characteristic cooling operator in human body and that is the reason it is expended for its cooling impact in summer. Ripe fruits are sub acidic, utilized for making superb juice, squash, jams, pies and chutneys. Its juice is utilized to extinguish the thirst and avoid nausea, vomiting and Gastric Intestinal unease connected with warmth stroke. It is good for heart stroke victims.
Phalsa is consumed fresh, as desserts, or processed into refreshing fruit and soft drinks as it has cooling and refresher effects which defeat thirst and sensation eye-catching crimson red to dark purple color of the fruit is a direct result of anthocyanin pigment. It has a good antioxidant value. The phalsa fruits are wealthy in flavonoids, carotenoids and anthocyanins. Flavonoids have known antioxidant activities while anthocyanins help to decrease the danger of coronary illness by hindering cholesterol arrangement.
Fruit of phalsa are wealthy in potassium, which assumes vital job in energy metabolism and normalizing pulse. Phalsa has been utilized in different prescriptions since Vedic period. The fruit cures thirst and burning sensation, expel and fix inflammations and said to be useful for heart and blood issue, fevers and the diarrhea. The organic product is considered to have brutal and stomachic properties and have ant malaria and antiulcer impacts. The fruit is useful for the trouble of throat.
Unripe phalsa fruit eases inflammation, it might help in fever decrease, restoring respiratory, heart, blood issue, heat troubles and constipation. The unripe fruits, and bark of phalsa plant fixes urinary troubles and the burning sensation of reproductive system. The root is utilized in strangury, gleet and gonorrhea. The root bark is utilized for rheumatism by Santhal clan. The leaves are utilized as an application to pustular emissions. A few doctors likewise endorse buds of phalsa for curing of diseases.
The leaves are accepted to have anti-toxin properties consequently, connected on skin eruptions and they are known to have anti-infection activity. The leaves are believed to have anti-cancer effect. Its leaves have an anti-infection impact and relieve skin inflammations. Soak the leaves in water overnight and make a paste, Apply the glue on influenced zone of skin. The leaves of a Phalsa tree are utilized to heal wounds and cuts and to relieve irritation and pain. The bark is utilized as a cleanser substitute in Burma.
The barks mixture is utilized in the treatment of inflammation and diarrhea. The seeds are utilized for treating gonorrhea and fertility related issues, likewise shields from sunstroke and heal anemia. The oil created from the seeds helps in the treatment of reproductive and fertility issues. Phalsa also keeps the development of breast, cervical, and blood cancer cells.
Phalsa is frequently promoted from patients who experience the ill effects of asthma, bronchitis, colds, coughs, and sore throats It contains overabundance of supplements and minerals. The oil created from the seeds helps in the treatment of reproductive and fertility issues.
Phalsa helps expanding energy levels, enhances skin and vision and advances a characteristic weight reduction. Phalsa juice is good for sunburn and the individuals who experience the ill effects of a heat stroke. It helps in building stamina and calms discouragement. Phalsa juice is an extraordinary enhancement for individuals with diabetes.
Way forward:
To eradicate malnutrition and health problems from the country, the production of phalsa at large scale is need of the hour. In this context, government of Pakistan should take following steps.
- Manipulate this fruit at farmers level on subsidies bases
- Create maximum awareness among people by exploring its potential merits.
- Develop capacity including academia, researcher, extensionists and farmers.
- Provide crop insurance to farmers.