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Averrhoa carambola

Starfruit is a tropical fruit of the Oxalidaceae family. It is star shaped and golden yellow in colour during ripe conditions. It is fleshy, juicy, acidic and a mixture of sweet and sour in taste. The fruit has overall 132 reported bioactive compounds of which quercetin, gallic acid and epicatechin are found in higher percentage than others. These compounds have been reported to show hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory activity and antiproliferative activities. Norathyriol present in the fruit has antioxidant activities, and on the other hand it also helps to induce the cytokine production (IL-6 and TNF-alpha). It has been reported to show lymphocyte proliferation in a dose dependent manner. Sorbitol is also a bioactive compound found in highly abundant state in the ripe fruits. It is a natural sweetener and it has many medical applications and health benefits.

Mode of Consumption: Mostly consumed Raw, Used to prepare Juice, Jam, Pickles Dried fruits etc

Plant Details Agro-climatic Zone Vernacular Names Pictures
Scientific Name: Averrhoa carambola L.
Family: Oxalidaceae R.Br.
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Oxalidales
Genus: Averrhoa L.
Fruiting Season: April-June; October-December
Fruting Condition: Ripe
  • Eastern Himalayan Region
  • West Coast Plains and Ghat Region
  • West Coast Plains and Ghat Region & East Coast Plains and Hills Region

Assam : Kordoi
Kerala : Caturappuli, Daarehuli, Daarehuli, Kamaraakshi, Kamarak, Kamarike
Manipur : Heinoujom
Mizoram : Thei-her-awt
Tamil Nadu : Caturappuli, Tamaratti

Ripe starfruits.


Starfruits on the plant.


Ripe fruit.

Compound/Chemical Immunomodulatory Activity Pathway Immunomodulatory Marker
NorathyriolAntioxidant activityNorathyriol extracted from fruit shows powerful Antioxidant activity effects such as free radical scavenging against DPPH and ABTS+, with IC50 values of 4.9 and 9.63 ug/ml[5]
NorathyriolAntioxidant activityNorathyriol extracted from fruit shows powerful Antioxidant activity effects such as free radical scavenging against DPPH and ABTS+, with IC50 values of 4.9 and 9.63 ug/ml[6]
Fruit extractAnti-hyperglycemic activityThe fruit extract resulted to show lowering of plasma glucose level and G-6-pase, SGOT, SGPT, ACP and ALP activities and increases the activity of hepatic glycogen and hexokinase.[1]
Fruit extractAnti-hyperglycemic activityThe fruit extract resulted to show lowering of plasma glucose level and G-6-pase, SGOT, SGPT, ACP and ALP activities and increases the activity of hepatic glycogen and hexokinase.[1]
Juice extractAnti-hyperglycemic activityThe juice extract decreases the proteins such as CTGF and TGF-beta1 in kidney tissues, FBG levels, blood glucose, area under the curve, LDH, glucagon (GC) and pyruvtae in serum and increase fasting insulin (FINS) levels.[1]
Juice extractAnti-hyperglycemic activityThe juice extract decreases the proteins such as CTGF and TGF-beta1 in kidney tissues, FBG levels, blood glucose, area under the curve, LDH, glucagon (GC) and pyruvtae in serum and increase fasting insulin (FINS) levels.[1]
Juice extractAnti-hyperglycemic activityThe juice extract reduces FBG, FFA, MDA, TC, TG, Serum creatinine(Scr) and BUN levels and increases insulin, sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), cAMP and SOD activities.[1]
Juice extractAnti-hyperglycemic activityThe juice extract reduces FBG, FFA, MDA, TC, TG, Serum creatinine(Scr) and BUN levels and increases insulin, sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), cAMP and SOD activities.[1]
Methanolic extractAnti-hyperlipiddemic activityThe methanol extract of the fruit exhibits anti-hyperlipidemic effects in a dose dependent manner by inhibiting of HMG-CoA reductase enzyme, increase in secretion of cholesterol and bile acids in feces and by reducing the endogenous synthesis of TC and TG in liver.[1]
Methanolic extractAnti-hyperlipiddemic activityThe methanol extract of the fruit exhibits anti-hyperlipidemic effects in a dose dependent manner by inhibiting of HMG-CoA reductase enzyme, increase in secretion of cholesterol and bile acids in feces and by reducing the endogenous synthesis of TC and TG in liver.[2]
Methanolic extractAnti-inflammatory activityThe test drugs of the fruit extract was seen to induce cytokine production (including IL-6 and TNF- alpha) and also induces lymphocyte proliferation in a dose dependent manner.IL-6, TNF-alpha[5]
Major Class Metabolites
CoumarinReticulol(Fruit), 6-O-methyl-reticulol(Fruit), 5-methylmellein(Fruit), 7-hydroxy-5-methylmellein(Fruit)
FlavonoidCarambolaside M-Q(Fruit), Carambolaside A-I(Fruit), Carambolaside Ia(Fruit), Carambolaside J(Fruit), Carambolaside Ja(Fruit), 8-carboxymethyl-(+)-epicatechin methyl ester(Fruit), Heptyl vicianoside(Fruit), Octyl vicianoside(Fruit), cis-3-hexenyl rutinoside(Fruit)
Phenolic acid(6S,9R)-vomifoliol(Fruit), cis-abscisic acid beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester(Fruit), trans-abscisic alcohol beta-D-glucopyranoside(Fruit), (6S,9R)-roseoside(Fruit), cis-abscisic alcohol beta-D-glucopyranoside(Fruit), Artemisinic acid(Fruit), 3-beta-hydroxyartemisinic acid(Fruit), Artemisinic acid 3-beta-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside(Fruit), Gallic acid(Fruit), Ferulic acid(Fruit), Tecomin(Fruit)
Phenylpropanoid3-beta-hydroxyartemisinic acid beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester(Fruit), Arjunolic acid(Fruit), Vanillic acid(Fruit), 8,9,10-trihydroxythymol(Fruit), Carambolaside K(Fruit), Carambolaside L(Fruit), Koaburaside(Fruit), Protocatechuic acid(Fruit), 1-O-vanilloyl-beta-D-glucose(Fruit)
Sugar(+)-isolariciresinol 9-O-beta-D-glucoside(Fruit), (+)-lyoniresinol 9-O-beta-D-glucoside(Fruit), (−)-lyoniresinol 9-O-beta-D-glucoside(Fruit), 1-O-feruloyl-beta-D-glucose(Fruit), Methyl 2-O-beta-D-fucopyranosyl-Alpha-L-arabinofuranoside(Fruit), Methyl Alpha-D-fructofuranoside(Fruit)
Terpene(+)-Epicatechin(Fruit), (–)-Epicatechin(Fruit), Pinobanksin 3-O-beta-D-glucoside(Fruit), Helicioside A(Fruit), Taxifolin 3-O-beta-D-glucoside(Fruit), Norathyriol(Fruit), Isorhamnetin 3-O-rutinoside(Fruit), Hovertichoside C(Fruit), Isovitexin 2-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside(Fruit), Carambolaflavone(Fruit), (5R,6S,7E,9R)-5,6,9-trihydroxy-7-megastigmene 9-O-beta-D-glucoside(Fruit), Drovomifoliol(Fruit), 3-oxo-alpha-ionol-9-O-beta-D-glucoside(Fruit), 3-oxo-9-O-beta-D-glucosyloxy-4,6E-megastigmadien(Fruit), 4-oxo-beta-ionol 9-O-beta-D-glucoside(Fruit), Cannabiside D(Fruit), Dendranthemoside B(Fruit), Icariside(Fruit), Officinoside A(Fruit), 6S,7E,10S)-9,15-10-hydroxyabscisic alcohol(Fruit), Abscisic acid(Fruit), Abscisyl beta-D-glucoside(Fruit), 9E-abscisic acid(Fruit), 9E-abscisyl beta-D-glucoside(Fruit), 9E-abscisic alcohol beta-D-glucoside(Fruit), cis-abscisic acid(Fruit), trans-abscisic acid(Fruit), trans-abscisic alcohol(Fruit)
VitaminL-ascorbic acid(Fruit)
Traditional Practice Diseases Plant Part Additional Knowledge
4.1, 04.1.1, 04.1.1.1, 04.1.1.3, 04.1.2.12, 04.1.2.3, 04.1.2.5
Incompatible with Milk and Yogurt

CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat-6, Assam, India
CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur-61,Himachal Pradesh, India