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Kapittha

Limonia acidissima Groff (syn. Feronia limonia (L.) Swingle)

Kapittha (Limonia acidissima Groff (syn. Feronia limonia (L.) Swingle)) is a plant drug, also called Dadhittha, Dantasatha and Kapipriya, from the Rutaceae family. Listed in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India as Kapittha.

Key facts
Botanical nameLimonia acidissima Groff (syn. Feronia limonia (L.) Swingle)
FamilyRutaceae · other entries in this family
OrderSapindales
Pharmacopoeia statusListed in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India as Kapittha. Traditional use documented in Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. No WHO monograph. Fruit is consumed as food across South and Southeast Asia.
Taxon identifiersGBIF 5421342 · Wikidata Q935616 · NCBI Taxonomy 159053
Names in other languages
Sanskritदधित्थ (dadhittha), दन्तशठ (dantaśaṭha), Kapipriya
Hindiकैथ (kaitha), कपित्थ (kapittha), कठबेल (kaṭhabela)
EnglishWood apple
Tamilவிளா, Vilamaram, Vilangai, விளாமரம்
MalayalamVilar maram, Villanga Kaaya
TeluguVelaga
KannadaBalada, Bekalu, Belada hannu, Belalu, Bilvara, Haminamara
MarathiKavatha
BengaliKavataleal, Kavita, Kayet Bael
GujaratiKondhu, Kotha
UrduKaith
PunjabiKainth
AssameseKulekhara

Sources: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (column alignment reconstructed); Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, KAPITTHA monograph (Feronia limonia = Limonia acidissima), Sanskrit slot "Danta Satha, Kapipriya"; MMPND Limonia page lists Sanskrit "दन्तशठ Danthashatha"; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, KAPITTHA monograph (dried pulp of mature fruit of Feronia limonia (Linn.) Swingle = Limonia acidissima, api-all.txt line 24166 ff.), Hindi slot "Kaitha"; MMPND Limonia page lists Hindi "कैट Kait, कैथ Kait, कैथा Kaitha"; MMPND (plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Limonia.html) lists under HINDI for Limonia acidissima: "... कैट Kait, कैथ Kait, कैथा Kaitha, कपित्थ Kapitth, कठबेल Katabel, कत्बेल Katbel".; MMPND Limonia page lists "कपित्थ Kapitth" under HINDI and "कपित्थं Kapittha" under SANSKRIT for Limonia acidissima; API's monograph is itself titled KAPITTHA for Feronia limonia (= Limonia acidissima).; MMPND Limonia page lists Tamil "விளா Vila (viḷā), விளா மரம் Vilamaram, விளாம்பழம் Vilam palam, ..."; API's KAPITTHA monograph Tamil slot gives "Vilamaram, Vilangai"; MMPND Limonia page lists under Sanskrit "Dadhi, दधिफल Dadhiphala, Dadhistha, दधित्थ Dadhittha, ..."; API's KAPITTHA monograph Sanskrit slot gives "Danta Satha, Kapipriya"; MMPND Limonia page lists under TAMIL: "கபித்தம் Kapittam, கவித்தம் Kavittam, தந்தசடம் Tantacatam, Velam, Velan, விளா Vila (viḷā), விளா மரம் Vilamaram, விளாம்பழம் Vilam palam, ..."; API's KAPITTHA monograph gives Tamil "Vilamaram, Vilangai".. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 1988 to 2025, 10 with a DOI.

  • 1Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 11Laboratory 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.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishWood apple
Latin/BotanicalLimonia acidissima Groff (syn. Feronia limonia (L.) Swingle)

Key Phytochemical Constituents

How does it work?

  • Antiulcer activity via coumarin-mediated (luvangetin) enhancement of gastric mucosal defense and inhibition of acid secretion
  • Antimicrobial and antifungal action through furanocoumarins (psoralen, bergapten) disrupting microbial DNA replication upon photoactivation
  • Antidiabetic activity via flavonoid-mediated (orientin, vitedin) alpha-glucosidase inhibition and insulin sensitization
  • Hepatoprotective effects through coumarin and flavonoid-mediated antioxidant protection and restoration of hepatic enzymes

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

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

  • Traditionally used for diarrhea and dysentery. Preclinical studies have reported antimicrobial and anti-motility activity.
  • Traditionally used for peptic ulcer. Preclinical studies in aspirin- and ethanol-induced ulcer models have reported anti-ulcer activity.
  • Traditionally used to protect the liver. Preclinical studies in CCl4-induced liver damage models have reported restoration of liver function markers.
  • Traditionally used for respiratory ailments. Preclinical studies have reported antihistaminic and bronchodilatory effects.

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

  • Fruit pulp is widely consumed as food in India and is generally safe; however, furanocoumarins (psoralen, bergapten) may cause photosensitivity upon topical exposure
  • Antispermatogenic activity has been documented in animal models; male fertility impact should be considered. Pregnancy use not recommended without supervision.

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Swarasa (juice), Avaleha (fruit confection), Churna (powder), Capsule, Murabba (preserve)

Standard Dosage: 10-20 mL fruit juice twice daily; 10-20 g Avaleha; 3-5 g powder with honey

Optimal Timing: Before meals for appetite stimulation; after meals for digestive support; Avaleha can be taken anytime

Storage: Fresh fruit pulp and juice require refrigeration (2-8°C). Avaleha and Murabba store at ambient temperature in airtight glass jars. Powder in moisture-proof containers at 15-30°C.

Marker Compounds: Marmelosin, Psoralen, Bergapten, Citric acid, Tartaric acid, Tyramine, Feronia lactone

Synergistic Combinations

  • Bilva (Aegle marmelos) for digestive disorders
  • Dadima (pomegranate) for anti-diarrheal synergy
  • Draksha (grape) in Avaleha for nutritive formulations
  • Ela (cardamom) for flavor and carminative enhancement

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 reviews1

  1. Mohanty S, Pattnaik A. 2025. Ethnobotanical Significance, Phytopharmacology, and Toxicological Profile of Limonia acidissima L. (Rutaceae): A ReviewCombinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening. PMID 38676498 · doi:10.2174/0113862073285538240417051928

Laboratory and animal studies11

  1. El Sayed AM, El-Abd EAW, Afifi AH and others. 2024. Comparative metabolomics analysis of Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis Swingle and Limonia acidissima Linn. Fruits and leaves cultivated in Egypt in context to their antiviral effectsHeliyon. PMID 38933965 · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32335
  2. Vishnupriya N, Sankar MM, Vimal S and others. 2024. STITCH and Molecular Docking Analysis of Selected Wood Apple (Limonia acidissima) Constituents as Anti-Dandruff and Anti-Acne AgentsJournal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences. PMID 38882809 · doi:10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_508_23
  3. Afifah DN, Ayustaningwarno F, Rahmawati A and others. 2023. Characteristics of wood apple (Limonia acidissima L.) and soybean powder jelly for emergency food alternativesScientific reports. PMID 37704836 · doi:10.1038/s41598-023-42140-y
  4. Yusnaini R, Nasution R, Saidi N and others. 2023. Ethanolic Extract from Limonia acidissima L. Fruit Attenuates Serum Uric Acid Level via URAT1 in Potassium Oxonate-Induced Hyperuricemic RatsPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 36986518 · doi:10.3390/ph16030419
  5. Tan YP, Bishop-Hurley SL, Shivas RG and others. 2022. Fungal Planet description sheets: 1436-1477Persoonia. PMID 38234383 · doi:10.3767/persoonia.2022.49.08
  6. Mali KK, Sutar GV, Dias RJ and others. 2021. Evaluation of Nootropic Activity of Limonia acidissima Against Scopolamine-induced Amnesia in RatsTurkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences. PMID 33631923 · doi:10.4274/tjps.galenos.2019.30316
  7. Pandavadra M, Chanda S. 2014. Development of quality control parameters for the standardization of Limonia acidissima L. leaf and stemAsian Pacific journal of tropical medicine. PMID 25312130 · doi:10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60240-6
  8. Goldsberry A, Dinner A, Hanke CW. 2014. Thanaka: traditional Burmese sun protectionJournal of drugs in dermatology : JDD. PMID 24595576
  9. Thomas A, Ponnammal NR. 2005. PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF Limonia acidissima L. PLANT PARTSAncient science of life. PMID 22557192
  10. Lindsay SW, Ewald JA, Samung Y and others. 1998. Thanaka (Limonia acidissima) and deet (di-methyl benzamide) mixture as a mosquito repellent for use by Karen womenMedical and veterinary entomology. PMID 9737602 · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2915.1998.00115.x
  11. Bandara BM, Gunatilaka AA, Wijeratne EM and others. 1988. Antifungal constituents of Limonia acidissimaPlanta medica. PMID 3222382 · doi:10.1055/s-2006-962473

Reference lists that include it

Stigmasterol

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.