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Bijapura

Citrus medica L.

Bijapura (Citrus medica L.) is a plant drug, also called Matulunga, Bijoura and Galagala, from the Rutaceae family. Recognized as a traditional medicine and food plant across Mediterranean and Asian regions.

Key facts
Botanical nameCitrus medica L.
FamilyRutaceae · other entries in this family
OrderSapindales
Pharmacopoeia statusRecognized as a traditional medicine and food plant across Mediterranean and Asian regions. Listed in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia as Bijapura/Matulunga. No dedicated WHO monograph for C. medica specifically.
Taxon identifiersGBIF 3190157 · Wikidata Q150064 · NCBI Taxonomy 171251
Names in other languages
Sanskritबीजपूर (bījapūra), मातुलुङ्ग (mātuluṅga)
HindiBijoura, गलगल (galagala)
EnglishCitron, Wild Lemon
TamilKadarangai, Turunji Pazham, மாதுலங்கம்
MalayalamBongi, Gonapatinarakam, Matala Narakam, Mathulanga
TeluguMadi Phalam
KannadaMadala, Madalahannu, Madavala
MarathiBijora, Mahalunga
BengaliBijipura, Mutulanga
GujaratiBijora
UrduTuranj
PunjabiGalgal
OriyaJambhira
AssameseJaradeda

Sources: 'Names of Plants in India' Hindi list for Citrus medica: गलगल (galgal), पूरक (purak), तुरन्ज (turanj), वेतस (vetas).; 'Names of Plants in India' Tamil list for Citrus medica: கொம்மட்டிமாதுளை, மாதுலங்கம், பீதபூரம் (Flowers of India's Citron page adds பேரெலுமிச்சை).; Apte (via wisdomlib): 'Bījapūra (बीजपूर) — the citron tree. -ram, -rakam the fruit of citron'; wisdomlib also records बीजपूर as 'citron' in the 17th-century Bhojanakutūhala.; Apte: 'Mātuluṅga — A kind of citron tree' (quoting Mālatīmādhava 6.19), '-gam the fruit of this tree, a citron'; 'Names of Plants in India' Sanskrit list for Citrus medica includes मातुलुङ्ग.; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (column alignment reconstructed). How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2011 to 2024, every one with a DOI.

  • 7Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 5Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

This entry and matulunga describe the same drug, Citrus medica, under different names. Both pages are kept because both names are in use, and each is cited as itself.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishCitron
Latin/BotanicalCitrus medica L.

Key Phytochemical Constituents

How does it work?

  • Antiulcer activity via flavonoid-mediated (hesperidin, naringin) enhancement of gastric mucosal defense and inhibition of acid secretion
  • Antidiabetic action through alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibition by polyphenolic compounds in peel and seed
  • Antimicrobial activity through essential oil terpenoids (limonene, citral) disrupting microbial membrane permeability
  • Peel compounds have shown anticholinesterase activity in laboratory studies

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.

  • Traditionally used as a digestive and carminative. Preclinical studies have reported spasmolytic and gastroprotective activity.
  • Antiemetic (Chardi-nashaka) use is described in traditional practice. Studies have reported 5-HT3 receptor modulation.
  • Traditionally used for voice and throat care. Fruit preparations are traditionally described as demulcent and anti-inflammatory.
  • Cardioprotective use is described in traditional practice. Preclinical studies have reported antioxidant and anti-hyperlipidemic activity.

What do recent studies show?

Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

  • Generally safe at dietary doses; citron is consumed as food and flavoring agent worldwide with GRAS status
  • Excessive use of essential oil may cause phototoxicity due to furanocoumarin content; citric acid in juice may cause dental erosion with chronic excessive intake

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Swarasa (fresh juice), Churna (dried peel powder), Avaleha (jam/confection), Syrup, Essential oil, Panak (traditional drink)

Standard Dosage: 10-20ml fresh juice with honey; 1-3g dried peel powder; 5-10g Avaleha; juice as per palatability for digestive aid

Optimal Timing: With meals or after meals for digestive support; fresh juice in the morning; peel powder traditionally taken with honey in respiratory formulations

Storage: Fresh juice refrigerated at 2-8°C. Dried peel in airtight containers away from moisture. Essential oil in amber glass, cool storage. Protect from light to prevent vitamin C and terpene degradation.

Marker Compounds: Hesperidin, Naringin, Limonene, Citral, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Citric acid, Linalool, Beta-pinene, Pectin

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Ginger (Shunthi) for digestive and antiemetic formulations
  • With Honey for respiratory and digestive applications
  • With Rock salt (Saindhava) for appetite stimulation
  • With Pippali for Kapha-reducing respiratory formulations
  • With Haritaki for digestive health

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Other clinical studies and reviews7

  1. Sun Y, Zheng J, Zhang T and others. 2024. Review of polysaccharides from Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis. (Fingered citron): Their extraction, purification, structural characteristics, bioactivity and potential applicationsInternational journal of biological macromolecules. PMID 39427793 · doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.136640
  2. Benedetto N, Carlucci V, Faraone I and others. 2023. An Insight into Citrus medica Linn.: A Systematic Review on Phytochemical Profile and Biological ActivitiesPlants (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 37375892 · doi:10.3390/plants12122267
  3. Chen J, He N, Wang Q and others. 2023. A Comprehensive Review of Structures, Structure-activity Relationships, Extractions, and Bioactivities of Flavonoids from Citrus medicaCombinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening. PMID 37005516 · doi:10.2174/1386207326666230330083136
  4. Tundis R, Xiao J, Silva AS and others. 2023. Health-Promoting Properties and Potential Application in the Food Industry of Citrus medica L. and Citrus × clementina Hort. Ex Tan. Essential Oils and Their Main ConstituentsPlants (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 36903853 · doi:10.3390/plants12050991
  5. Pasupuleti MK, Nagate RR, Alqahtani SM and others. 2023. Role of Medicinal Herbs in Periodontal Therapy: A Systematic ReviewJournal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry. PMID 37153928 · doi:10.4103/jispcd.JISPCD_210_22
  6. Chhikara N , Kour R , Jaglan S and others. 2018. Citrus medica: nutritional, phytochemical composition and health benefits - a reviewFood & function. PMID 29594287 · doi:10.1039/c7fo02035j
  7. Frank MH, Chitwood DH. 2016. Plant chimeras: The good, the bad, and the 'Bizzaria'Developmental biology. PMID 27381079 · doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.07.003

Laboratory and animal studies5

  1. Coopersmith S, Rahamim V, Drori E and others. 2024. Natural Epithelial Barrier Integrity Enhancers-Citrus medica and Origanum dayi ExtractsGels (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 39727593 · doi:10.3390/gels10120836
  2. Luo B, Lv J, Li K and others. 2022. Structural Characterization and Anti-inflammatory Activity of a Galactorhamnan Polysaccharide From Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylisFrontiers in nutrition. PMID 35757248 · doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.916976
  3. Fratianni F, Cozzolino A, De Feo V and others. 2019. Polyphenols, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Biofilm Inhibitory Activities of Peel and Pulp of Citrus medica L., Citrus bergamia, and Citrus medica cv. Salò Cultivated in Southern ItalyMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 31847295 · doi:10.3390/molecules24244577
  4. Nair S A, Sr RK, Nair AS and others. 2018. Citrus peels prevent cancerPhytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. PMID 30466983 · doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2017.08.011
  5. Roowi S, Crozier A. 2011. Flavonoids in tropical citrus speciesJournal of agricultural and food chemistry. PMID 21978223 · doi:10.1021/jf203022f

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.

Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.