Health Facts On Fishberry Fruit
Fishberry is scientifically called as Anamirta cocculus .
ORIGIN OF FISHBERRY
Anamirta cocculus (Marathi: काकमारी) is a Southeast Asian and Indian climbing plant. Its fruit is the source of picrotoxin, a poisonous compound with stimulant properties.
OTHER NAMES OF FISHBERRY
Fish Berry, Indian berry, Levant nut
• Hindi: काकमारी Kakamari
• Kannada: ಕಾಕಮಾರಿ Kaakamaari, ಕಾಕಿಸೊಪ್ಪುಗೆಡ್ಡೆ Kaakisoppugedde
• Malayalam: anakrytu, anamrytu, garalaphala
• Marathi: काकमारी kakmari, kaarvi, kadu-phal
• Sanskrit: dhvankshanakhi, garalaphala, kakadani, kakahva, kakamari
• Tamil: cantiropam, kakamari, kakanacam
• Telugu: kaaka maari, kaaki chempa
Anamirta cocculus, Anamirta paniculata, Coca de Levante, Cocculus, Cocculus indicus, Cocculus lacunosus, Cocculus suberosus, Coculus Fructus, Coque du Levant, Fish Berries, Fish Killer, Hockle Elderberry, Louseberry, Menispermum cocculus, Menispermum lacunosum, Poisonberry.
APPEARANCE OF FISHBERRY
The Fish Berry fruit produced is a drupe, about 1 cm in diameter when dry.
Fish Berry fruit crushed seeds are an effective pediculicide (anti-lice) and are also traditionally used to stun fish or as a pesticide.
The name “fishberry” comes from the use of the dried fruit as a method of fishing.
NUTRITIONAL CONTENTS OF FISHBERRY
Anamirta paniculata contain different active principles such as alkaloids such as berberine, palmatine, mangoflorine, colubamine, picrotoxin, minispremine, paraminispermine, and fatty acids like stearic acid, palmatic acid, fumeric acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid.
Important Medicinal Properties
1. Anodyne: Fish Berry fruit Relieves pain without causing loss of consciousness
2. Antifungal: Fish Berry fruit effective against fungus
3. Antiulcer: tending to prevent or heal ulcers
4. Hypnotic: sleep-inducing
5. Insecticide: Fish Berry fruit shall kills insects
6. Narcotic: addictive drug affecting mood or behavior
7. Nerve stimulant: Fish Berry fruit stimulates nerves
8. Sedative: promoting calm or inducing sleep
Uses of Anamirta cocculus
1. The seeds of Fish Berry fruit shall be used for preparation of ointment for obstinate skin diseases.
2. The juice of Fish Berry fruits is applied externally on scabies, and ulcer.
3. The Fish Berry fruit paste is applied topically to treat tinea/ringworm.
4. For itch, and herpes, the fine powder of seeds is mixed with castor oil, and applied topically.
Health Facts On Fishberry Fruit
The dried Fish Berry fruit and seeds are used to make medicine in some parts of the world.
But medicinal use has been abandoned in the US and Europe due to safety concerns.
Some people take levant berry to treat abnormal movement of the eyeball and dizziness.
Some people apply levant berry powder directly to the skin to treat a skin disease called scabies.
In India, Fish Berry fruit leaves are inhaled as snuff to relieve malaria. Whole fruits are used for paralyzing fish and killing birds or dogs. Jungle tribes apply picrotoxin taken from the seeds to arrow tips for hunting.
How does it work?
Levant berry contains a chemical that stimulates the central nervous system, irritates the stomach and intestines, and stimulates the brain causing changes in breathing. It also slows heart rate and increases blood pressure.