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Karmaranga

Averrhoa carambola

Karmaranga (Averrhoa carambola) is a plant drug, also called Karmarangah, Kamarakha and Karamala. L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is readily absorbed. Caution: oxalic acid may precipitate calcium, and it is not recommended for patients with renal calculi.

Key facts
Botanical nameAverrhoa carambola
FamilyOxalidaceae · other entries in this family
OrderOxalidales
Taxon identifiersGBIF 2891641 · Wikidata Q159447 · NCBI Taxonomy 28974
Names in other languages
Sanskritकर्मरङ्गः (karmaraṅgaḥ)
Hindiकमरख (kamarakha), करमल (karamala)
Tamilதமரத்தை

Sources: Names of Plants in India / efloraofindia:: Averrhoa carambola, Hindi list reads "कमरख (kamarakha), कमरक (kamaraka), दन्तसठ (dantasatha), पर्णमाचाल (parnamachal), पीतफल (pitaphala), शिराल (shiral)".; Names of Plants in India / efloraofindia:: Averrhoa carambola, Sanskrit list "कर्मरंग (karmaranga), कर्मरकः (karmarakah)"; flowersofindia.net Star Fruit page lists Tamil "Tamarattai" for Averrhoa carambola; Names of Plants in India / efloraofindia gives Tamil "கந்தசட்கம் kantacatkam, தமரத்தை tamarattai, தாமரத்தம்பழம் tamarattampazam"; flowersofindia.net Star Fruit page, Hindi "Karmal करमल" for Averrhoa carambola. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2013 to 2023, every one with a DOI.

  • 6Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 6Laboratory 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
EnglishKarmaranga

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)Amla, MadhuraPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)LaghuPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)SheetaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)AmlaPost-digestive effect

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Swarasa (fresh juice), Churna (dried fruit powder), Avaleha (preserve), Capsule, Kashayam (decoction)

Standard Dosage: 20-40 mL fresh fruit juice twice daily; 3-5 g powder with honey; 10-15 g Avaleha

Optimal Timing: After meals to minimize oxalate-related GI effects; not to be taken on empty stomach

Storage: Fresh juice requires immediate refrigeration (2-8°C). Dried preparations in airtight containers at 15-30°C. Protect from moisture and light.

Marker Compounds: Epicatechin, Proanthocyanidins, L-Ascorbic acid, Oxalic acid (to be minimized), Caramboxin (neurotoxin, must be absent in final product), Saponins, Gallic acid

Synergistic Combinations

  • Amalaki for enhanced antioxidant vitamin C combination
  • Draksha for nutritive tonic formulations
  • Haritaki in digestive formulations
  • Dadima for hematinic formulations

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 reviews6

  1. Lakmal K, Yasawardene P, Jayarajah U and others. 2021. Nutritional and medicinal properties of Star fruit (Averrhoa carambola): A reviewFood science & nutrition. PMID 33747490 · doi:10.1002/fsn3.2135
  2. Yasawardene P, Jayarajah U, De Zoysa I and others. 2021. Nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity following star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) ingestion: a narrative reviewTransactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. PMID 33693950 · doi:10.1093/trstmh/trab026
  3. Luan F, Peng L, Lei Z and others. 2021. Traditional Uses, Phytochemical Constituents and Pharmacological Properties of Averrhoa carambola L.: A ReviewFrontiers in pharmacology. PMID 34475822 · doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.699899
  4. Yasawardene P, Jayarajah U, De Zoysa I and others. 2020. Mechanisms of star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) toxicity: A mini-reviewToxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology. PMID 32966829 · doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.09.010
  5. Muthu N, Lee SY, Phua KK and others. 2016. Nutritional, Medicinal and Toxicological Attributes of Star-Fruits (Averrhoa carambola L.): A ReviewBioinformation. PMID 28405126 · doi:10.6026/97320630012420
  6. Allard T, Wenner T, Greten HJ and others. 2013. Mechanisms of herb-induced nephrotoxicityCurrent medicinal chemistry. PMID 23597204 · doi:10.2174/0929867311320220006

Laboratory and animal studies6

  1. Abduh MS, Saghir SAM, Al Hroob AM and others. 2023. Averrhoa carambola leaves prevent dyslipidemia and oxidative stress in a rat model of poloxamer-407-induced acute hyperlipidemiaFrontiers in pharmacology. PMID 36814487 · doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1134812
  2. Saghir SAM, Abdulghani MAM, Alruhaimi RS and others. 2022. Acute and sub-chronic toxicological evaluation of Averrhoa carambola leaves in Sprague Dawley ratsEnvironmental science and pollution research international. PMID 35864392 · doi:10.1007/s11356-022-22019-7
  3. Li C, Dong N, Shen L and others. 2022. Genome-wide identification and expression profile of YABBY genes in Averrhoa carambolaPeerJ. PMID 35036123 · doi:10.7717/peerj.12558
  4. Yang Y, Jia X, Xie H and others. 2020. Dihydrochalcone C-glycosides from Averrhoa carambola leavesPhytochemistry. PMID 32247075 · doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112364
  5. Yang Y, Xie H, Jiang Y and others. 2020. Flavan-3-ols and 2-diglycosyloxybenzoates from the leaves of Averrhoa carambolaFitoterapia. PMID 31790769 · doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2019.104442
  6. Aladaileh SH, Saghir SAM, Murugesu K and others. 2019. Antihyperlipidemic and Antioxidant Effects of Averrhoa Carambola Extract in High-Fat Diet-Fed RatsBiomedicines. PMID 31527433 · doi:10.3390/biomedicines7030072

Reference lists that include it

Gallic acid, Saponins

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.