Citrus maxima

Scientific name: Citrus maxima (Rumph. ex Burm.) Merr.

Synonym: Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck

Botanical family: RUTACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Haiti:

chadek

Other vernacular names

Haiti:

chadèk

Geographical distribution

Native to Malaya, nowadays cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions.

Botanical description

Tree up to 9 m high, armed with thin thorns. Ovate or elliptic-ovate leaves of 10 to 20 cm in length, slightly pubescent on the underside; broadly winged petiole. Large, solitary flowers or in axillary clusters with wide, white petals; stamens 20 to 25; globular ovary with very long capped stigma. Globose or oblate fruit, 10 to 15 cm in diameter, pale yellow, acidic.

Voucher(s)

Germosén-Robineau, 951, JBSD

The fruit and juice of Citrus maxima are foods of relatively widespread human consumption.

For ataque de nervios, fever or lung disease:
prepare a decoction with 1-2 teaspoons (5-10 grams) of rind in 1 cup (250 millilitres) of water, boil for 5 minutes in a covered vessel. Cool with the lid on the vessel, strain (filter) and drink 1 cup 3 times a day when symptomatic indication requires for the ataque de nervios, up to 2 or 5 days for the other indications.

Preparations must never be stored for more than 24 hours, even if refrigerated.

According to the information available:

The use for nervous breakdowns, fever and lung disease is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented TRAMIL surveys and the scientific information published.

If deterioration is observed in the patient or the fever persists for more than 2 days, the ataque de nervios for more than 2 days or the lung disease for more than 5 days, seek medical attention.

Not for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children under 8 years of age.

TRAMIL Work⁴
The aqueous extract (decoction) of freeze-dried leaves (5 g/kg/5 days), was administered orally in Swiss ICR mice (5 males and 5 females), the control was carried out with distilled water (0.5 ml/animal/day) with another 10 mice of the same strain and characteristics; they had an observation period of 3 weeks once the administration was completed. There was a 30% mortality rate, which implies that the LD₅₀ has a value greater than 5 g/kg. The treated animals showed a statistically significant decrease in the expected body weight gain and signs of dehydration. The macroscopic necropsies of the individuals who died showed abdominal and intestinal distention.

The aqueous extract (250 g of boiled leaf powder in 1 litre) from dried leaves (175, 550, 2000 mg /kg), orally in mice observed for 48 h, did not show signs of acute toxicity³.

The methanolic extract and petroleum ether from the leaves (500 g of plant material, yield 18.1%, 5, 50, 300 and 2000 mg/kg) orally in male albino mice (27-30 g) (n = 5), with the OECD guideline 420 no. 15, observed up to 14 days, did not show acute toxicity⁵.

No data are available to recommend their medicinal use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children.

TRAMIL Work²
Preliminary phytochemical screening (leaf):

phenolic alkaloids	-	medium polarity alkaloids	+	naphtha and/or anthraquinones	-
quaternary ammonium alkaloids	+	non-polar alkaloids	+	tannins	+
non-polar alkaloids	-	flavonoids	+	saponins	-
				lactones and cardiac glycosides	+

The aqueous leaf extract (250 g of powdered leaves boiled in 1 l of distilled water for 30 minutes, filtered and dried under vacuum, 100, 200, 300 mg/kg) orally in Swiss albino mice with controls of fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) and imipramine (30 mg/kg), showed a similar antidepressant effect to imipramine³.

No information is available in the scientific literature on the validation of the effects attributed to the leaf decoction for fever or lung disease.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

1 WENIGER B, ROUZIER M, 1986
Enquête TRAMIL. Service Oecuménique d’Entraide SOE, Port au Prince, Haïti.

2 JIMENEZ S, 1996
Tamizaje fitoquímico preliminar de la hoja de Citrus maxima. Trabajo TRAMIL. Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Quimica Farmaceutica, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.

3 POTDAR VH, KIBILE SJ, 2011
Evaluation of antidepressant-like effect of Citrus Maxima leaves in animal models of depression. Iranian J of Basic Medical Sciences 14(5):478-483.

4 CHAVERRI M, GARCIA-GONZALEZ M, 2013
Toxicidad aguda dosis repetida, en ratones, de la decocción liofilizada de hoja de Citrus maxima. Informe TRAMIL. LIPLAMED. Depto. de Fisiología, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

5 KUNDUSEN S, GUPTA M, MAZUMDER UK, HALDAR PK, PANDA SP, BHATTACHARYA S, 2011
Exploration of in vivo antioxidant potential of Citrus maxima leaves against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Der Pharmacia Sinica 2(3):156- 163.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for educational purposes only for the benefit of the general public and health professionals. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. Since some parts of plants could be toxic, might induce side effects, or might have interactions with certain drugs, anyone intending to use them or their products must first consult with a physician or another qualified health care professional. TRAMIL has no responsibility whatsoever towards the user for any decision, action or omission made in relation to the information contained in this Pharmacopoeia.

Main navigation

TRAMILibrary

Citrus maxima

Vernacular names

Haiti:

Haiti:

Geographical distribution

Botanical description

Voucher(s)

Pharmacopoeia

References

Disclaimer