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Vrikshamla

Garcinia indica (Thouars) Choisy (also includes reference to Garcinia cambogia/gummi-gutta)

Vrikshamla (Garcinia indica (Thouars) Choisy (also includes reference to Garcinia cambogia/gummi-gutta)) is a plant drug, also called Amlabijam, Vriksamla and Kokama, from the Clusiaceae (Guttiferae) family.

Key facts
Botanical nameGarcinia indica (Thouars) Choisy (also includes reference to Garcinia cambogia/gummi-gutta)
FamilyClusiaceae (Guttiferae)
OrderMalpighiales
Pharmacopoeia statusGarcinia cambogia (G. gummi-gutta) is under regulatory scrutiny in multiple countries (Health Canada, TGA Australia, France) due to hepatotoxicity reports. G. indica (kokum) is listed in Indian food regulatory frameworks and Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia. WHO adverse drug reaction database contains hepatotoxicity case reports for Garcinia/HCA.
Taxon identifiersGBIF 3189566 · Wikidata Q2095514 · NCBI Taxonomy 547469
Names in other languages
Sanskritअम्लबीजम् (amlabījam), वृक्षाम्ला (vṛkṣāmlā)
Hindiकोकम (kokama)

Sources: Dravyaguna Vigyan "Vrikshamla / Kokum" monograph, sdach.ac.in, which lists Amlabija among the Sanskrit synonyms for Garcinia indica alongside Raktavrikshamla, Amlapura and Amlashaka.; Dravyaguna Vigyan monograph "Vrikshamla / Kokum" on the Ayurveda college portal sdach.ac.in lists Hindi names as "Kokum, Kokam, Komal, Amlaveta, Vishambila"; eFloraofIndia's Garcinia indica page independently records कोकम in Konkani/Gujarati script forms and English "kokam".; eFloraofIndia species page for Garcinia indica, Sanskrit: वृक्षामला (vrikshamla); corroborated by the Dravyaguna Vigyan "Vrikshamla / Kokum" monograph on sdach.ac.in (Sanskrit name: Vrikshamla) and by the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part I Vol V, which titles the monograph Vrikshamla for Garcinia indica.. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2002 to 2026, 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.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishVrikshamla
Latin/BotanicalGarcinia indica (Thouars) Choisy (also includes reference to Garcinia cambogia/gummi-gutta)

Key Phytochemical Constituents

  • Hydroxycitric acid (HCA)
  • Garcinol (polyisoprenylated benzophenone)
  • Isogarcinol
  • Cyanidin-3-sambubioside
  • Cyanidin-3-glucoside (anthocyanins)
  • Hydroxycitric acid lactone
  • Citric acid
  • Cambogic acid
  • Xanthochymol
  • Kokum butter (stearic acid-rich fat)

How does it work?

  • Preclinical studies report anti-obesity action via HCA-mediated inhibition of ATP-citrate lyase (ACL), blocking de novo fatty acid synthesis and suppressing appetite
  • Preclinical studies report anticancer activity via garcinol-mediated HAT inhibition, NF-kB suppression and induction of apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway
  • Preclinical studies report anti-inflammatory effects through garcinol-mediated inhibition of COX-2, iNOS, NF-kB and STAT3 signaling cascades
  • Preclinical studies report cardioprotective action via antioxidant phenolics protecting against lipid peroxidation and endothelial dysfunction

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 obesity and weight control. Preclinical studies have reported that HCA inhibits lipogenesis. Clinical study results have been mixed.
  • Traditionally used as a digestive and carminative. Studies have reported gastroprotective and anti-ulcerogenic activity.
  • Traditionally used for inflammation. Preclinical studies have reported that garcinol inhibits COX-2 and LOX.
  • Traditionally used to protect the heart. Animal studies using a high-fat diet have reported antioxidant and anti-hyperlipidemic 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

  • CRITICAL: Garcinia cambogia (G. gummi-gutta) supplements have been associated with severe hepatotoxicity (34 cases, 1 death, 9 liver transplants); France suspended marketing of G. cambogia supplements in 2025. G. indica also contains HCA and cross-contamination/substitution risk exists.
  • Kokum fruit rind and kokum butter (G. indica) are traditionally consumed as food in India and are generally well-tolerated at culinary doses. USP recommends cautionary labeling for HCA-containing supplements.

What is it made of?

Key Active Markers

  • Garcinol
  • Anthocyanins
  • Citric Acid
  • Stearic Acid
  • Hydroxycitric acid
  • Isogarcinol
  • Cyanidin-3-sambubioside
  • Cyanidin-3-glucoside
  • Hydroxycitric acid lactone
  • Cambogic acid
  • Xanthochymol
  • Kokum butter

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (fruit rind powder), Capsule, Tablet, Extract (concentrated), Syrup, Kwatha (decoction)

Standard Dosage: 500 mg-1.5 g fruit rind powder or standardized extract twice daily before meals; 250-500 mg HCA (hydroxycitric acid) twice daily for weight management

Optimal Timing: 30-60 minutes before meals for weight management (HCA acts on appetite and lipogenesis); avoid on empty stomach if GI-sensitive

Storage: Store in airtight containers at 15-25 deg C, protected from moisture and heat. HCA salts more stable than free acid. Avoid storage above 30 deg C to prevent lactonization. Protect from humidity (HCA salts are hygroscopic).

Marker Compounds: (-)-Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), Garcinol, Isogarcinol, Xanthochymol, Isoxanthochymol, Citric acid, Camboginol, Guttiferone

Synergistic Combinations

  • Triphala - digestive and metabolic synergy for weight management
  • Guggulu - lipid-lowering combination
  • Meshashringi/Gudmar (Gymnema sylvestre) - appetite control and glycemic management
  • Trikatu - bioenhancer and thermogenic combination
  • Green tea extract - complementary thermogenic and lipogenic inhibition

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. van Breemen RB, Roe AL, Akhtar N. 2025. Hepatotoxicity of dietary supplements containing Garcinia gummi-gutta (L.) N. RobsonPharmaceutical biology. PMID 41262061 · doi:10.1080/13880209.2025.2591467
  2. Desai S, Sharma P, Kashyap P and others. 2022. Bioactive compounds, bio-functional properties, and food applications of Garcinia indica: A reviewJournal of food biochemistry. PMID 35933691 · doi:10.1111/jfbc.14344
  3. Lim SH, Lee HS, Lee CH and others. 2021. Pharmacological Activity of Garcinia indica (Kokum): An Updated ReviewPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 34959738 · doi:10.3390/ph14121338
  4. Aggarwal V, Tuli HS, Kaur J and others. 2020. Garcinol Exhibits Anti-Neoplastic Effects by Targeting Diverse Oncogenic Factors in Tumor CellsBiomedicines. PMID 32365899 · doi:10.3390/biomedicines8050103
  5. Schobert R, Biersack B. 2019. Chemical and Biological Aspects of Garcinol and Isogarcinol: Recent DevelopmentsChemistry & biodiversity. PMID 31386266 · doi:10.1002/cbdv.201900366
  6. Behera AK, Swamy MM, Natesh N and others. 2016. Garcinol and Its Role in Chronic DiseasesAdvances in experimental medicine and biology. PMID 27671827 · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-41334-1_18
  7. Jena BS, Jayaprakasha GK, Singh RP and others. 2002. Chemistry and biochemistry of (-)-hydroxycitric acid from GarciniaJournal of agricultural and food chemistry. PMID 11754536 · doi:10.1021/jf010753k

Laboratory and animal studies5

  1. Khurana M, Sharma S, Mahajan S and others. 2026. Garcinia indica: A Multifaceted Phytomedicine Bridging Nutrition and TherapyCurrent drug research reviews. PMID 42300313 · doi:10.2174/0125899775407817251208183704
  2. Li Z, Lin K, Wang Y and others. 2025. Garcinol promotes wound healing in diabetic mice by regulating inflammation and NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis via the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathwayInternational immunopharmacology. PMID 40022821 · doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2025.114352
  3. Murthy HN, Yadav GG, Kadapatti SS and others. 2023. Phytochemical Analysis, GC-MS Identification of Bioactive Compounds, and In Vitro Antioxidant Activities of Resin of Garcinia indica (Thouars) ChoisyApplied biochemistry and biotechnology. PMID 36705843 · doi:10.1007/s12010-023-04343-x
  4. Son SI, Su D, Ho TT and others. 2020. Garcinol Is an HDAC11 InhibitorACS chemical biology. PMID 33034447 · doi:10.1021/acschembio.0c00719
  5. Dhamija I, Parle M, Kumar S. 2017. Antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of Garcinia indica fruit rind via monoaminergic pathway3 Biotech. PMID 28593516 · doi:10.1007/s13205-017-0766-x

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

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