Cydonia vulgaris Pers. [Syn.: Pyrus ighant] (MAHAPALEVATA)

Though there is some confusion in identifying arevata, palevata, paravata and mahapalevata, author clarifies that both arevata,palevata and Paravata are synonyms of Psidium gujava. Paravata is mangostan fruit (Garcinia mangostan) while mahaopalevatais muglai bihidana or quince (Cydonia vulgaris). Arevata is the name used by susruta (Su.38/64 etc.) and vagbhata (A.H.Su.32/9) whereas, caraka did not mention.  Both caraka (Su.26/112 & 27/131) and susruta (Su.4218 & 46/139, 158) have quoted paravatabut not palevata. Vagbhata mentioned palevata (A.H.Su.6/135 & 10/26) and not paravata.  Paravata is identified as P. gujava by some scholars. But, cakrapani in his bhanumati commentary described that paravata is famous at Kamarupa desa (Combodia). Therefore, it is opined that pravata / palevata must be a Garcinia species.  G. gambosa is known as kankustha and G. mangostanis identified as palevata.  Mahapalevata is not mentioned in the brhat trayi works.  But, mahapalevata of ighantu period shall be identified with Cydonia vulgaris.

Botanical Description (C. vulgaris) – The fruit of a shrub belonging to the same tribe as the apple. It somewhat resembles an apple, but differs in having many seeds in each carpel. It has hard flesh of high flavor, but very acid, and is largely used for marmalade, jelly, and preserves.

Major Chemical Constituents – isolation of four new sesterterpenes from Cydonia vulgaris Pers. Here we report the isolation of four new flavonol glycosides (1-4) and nine new -ionol-derived glycosides (5-13) together with the known 3-oxo–ionol 9-O–D-apiofuranosyl-(16)–D-glucopyranoside (14), vomifoliol 9-O–D-glucopyranoside (roseoside) (15), and vomifoliol 9-O–D-apiofuranosyl-(16)–D-glucopyranoside (16) from the MeOH extract of the aerial parts of C. vulgaris Pers.

Research – The antioxidant activities of water, ethanol, and ether extracts of the leaves of Cydonia vulgaris Pers. Were determined by the thiocyanate method. The antioxidant activity of water extract was increased with the increasing amount of extract (200 µg- 1000µg) added to the linoleic acid emulsion. Ether extract was the most effective antioxidant among the extracts. Like antioxidant activity, the reducing power of water extract was concentration dependent. However, ethanol extract was the highest in reducing power, and ether extract was the lowest. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the leaves of Cydonia vulgaris are a potential source of natural antioxidants. In addition, we could suggest that although the reducing power of a substance may be an indicator of its potential antioxidant activity, there is not necessarily a linear correlation between these two activities (Ali Y. et al., 1999).