The New Nation - Internet Edition

Jamayet Ali

Juicy and tasty fruit Angur is favourite to all. More than fifty species of this fruit are known. Of these Angur is the most important and universally cultivated grape vine. With only a few exceptions, all modern grapes are direct or hybrid descendants of this species. It is known that cultivation of Angur most probably began in Asia Minor, in the region between and the south of Black and Caspian seas. Many naturalised or possibly wild forms are still known in this area. From Asia Minor, the culture of grape spread both towards west and east. Though Angur is not grown in Bangladesh, it comes from other countries as import item and its availability is satisfactory. It is sold in hats and bazaars and also in the shops of fruit sellers in rural Bangla.

While wine-grapes soon spread throughout the Southern and Central Europe, almost at the same time the cultivation of raisin table grapes was spreading around the eastern end of the Mediterranean sea to the countries of North Africa. Almost coinciding with the westward extension of cultivation, it moved eastwards through Turkey and Iran to Pakistan and India. The leading grape growing countries in different regions are: Italy, France, Russia and Spain in Europe; Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Japan and Syria in Asia; Algeria, South Africa and Morocco in Africa; Argentina and Chile in South America and U.S.A. in North America. In our country cultivation of Angur (Grape) are still on experimental stage. Applied Botany Research division of the BCSIR, Rajshahi has undertaken a project for studies on grape production and improvement of its quality.

Angur is a good source of bioflavonoid (vitamin P), which are known to be useful in such conditions as purpura, capillary bleeding in diabetis, odema and inflammation from injury; radiation damage, and atherosclerosis, catechines and anthocyanogenic tannins present in angur possesses bioflavonoid activity. Vine sprouts and leaves are rich sources of bioflavonoid (Watt and Breyer Brandwijk, 1060). Food scientists have proved by analysis that per 100 grams. edible Angur contain: moisture, 75.3; minerals, 0.5, fibre, 2.9; calorie 97 k; protein, 0.5; fat, 0.1; and carbohydrate, 23.6 g . calcium, 22; iron, 0.5; vitamin B-1, 0.10; vitamin B-2, 0.06 and vitamin C 29 mg / 100g. (Food Processes and Analyses, Mohammad Yunus, BARC, Dhaka).

Medicinal Properties: There are five kinds of fruit. The ripe fruit is acrid; cooling, laxative and purgative, fattening, diuretic, aphrodisiac, appetizer; good for the eyes, and the throat; cures thirst, fever, asthma, "vata" and "vatarakta", jaundice, strangury, burning, bad effects of drinking, blood diseases; allays vomiting; difficult to digest, causes gases in the stomach; causes "kapha". The sour fruit causes biliousness (Ayurveda).

The leaves are useful in piles. Their juice cures headache, syphilis, piles, inflammation of the spleen; diuretic; allays vomiting, stops bleeding from the mouth; applied in scabies, produces alopecia. The ashes of the stem are good for pains in the joints, stones in the bladder, swelling of the testicle, and piles. The flower is expectorant, emmenagogue; enriches the blood; tonic of the liver; good in chronic bronchitis; produces constipation. the fruit is sour, sweet; digestive, stomachic, expectorant; purifies and enriches the blood; good for lungs, liver and kidney; fattens the body; useful in old fevers; recommended to weak people. The skin of the fruit should not be eaten. The seeds are cooling, aphrodisiac, astringent to the bowels; their ash is applied to diminish inflammation (Yunani).

The dried fruits are demulcent, laxative, sweet, cooling, agreeable and useful in thirst, heat of body, cough, hoarseness and consumption. The sap of the young branches is a popular remedy for skin diseases, and is still a popular remedy in Europe for ophthalmia. The juice of the unripe grapes is used as an astringent in affections of the throat. Black raisins in combination with other drugs are prescribed for the treatment of snake-bite (Sushruta, Vaghbata) and scorpion sting (Sushruta). The leaves, on account of their astringency, are sometimes used in diarrhoea. In modem native practice, the raisins are considered cool and aperient and given in coughs, catarrh and jaundice (Indian Medicinal Plants, K.R. Kirtikar & B.D. Basu, 608)

Medicine: Angurs both fresh and dried have varied uses in Ayurvedic and Unani system of medicine. Fresh grapes are considered laxative, stomachic, diuretic, demulcent and cooling; raisins are also demulcent, laxative, cooling and expectorant. Grapes are used in the preparation of various medicines. The popular tonic Drakshasava is made from grape juice. Similarly grapes enter in to the preparation of Chyavanaprasa. The juice of the unripe berries is used as an astringent in throat affections. The leaves are astringent are some times used in diarrhoea. The sap of young branches is reported to be used for skin diseases and ophthalmia (Chopra, 1958, 530; Marketing of grapes in India, 1965, 47).

According to U.C. Dutt the dried fruits or raisins have for many centuries been employed medicinally by the Hindus. They are described as "demulcent, laxative, sweet, cooling, agreeable and useful in thirst, heat of body, cough, hoarseness, and consumption. Raisins also enter into the consumption of numerous demulcent and expectorant medicines." Dutt describes the preparation of a medicinal wine known as Draksha arishta of which the chief ingredients are raisins treacle, cinnamon, cardamoms, tejpatra, the flowers of Mesua ferrea, the fruit of Aglaia Roxburghii, black pepper, long pepper; etc. set aside until fermented. This liquor was deemed invigorating and nourishing and was used in consumption, cough, difficult breathing, and hoarseness.

In European Pharmacy raisins are similarly employed in compound tincture of cardamoms, tincture of senna on account of saccharine matter they contain. Noureddeen Mohammad Abdulla Shirazy, Physician to the Emperor Shahjehan in his work Ulfaz Udwich gives the uses of grapes, raisins, and wine among the Mohammadans in his time. A species of black grape known as Asa' ba ul Ghe sa-ri, PERs; Kali-dakh, Hind; and Angur-zeituni, ARAB, was regarded as hot and dry. Wine by the Muhammadan Physicians was a hot and dry cordial. Raisins without seeds, were known as Zebir in ARAB; Kishmish in HIND; Me-wiz in PERS; they were regarded as emollient and suppurative. Abdullah Shirazy adds that the vine plant was in Arabic kerm.

The Muhammadan writers regarded the fruit as one of the most digestible, purifying the blood, and increasing its quantity and quality. Dymock tells us that ''The ashes of the Wood are recommended as a preventive of stone in the bladder, cold swellings of the testes, and piles; in the two last named diseases they are to be applied externally as well as given internally. The juice of unripe grapes, Husrum, ARAB; Ghurch, PERS, is used as an astringent". The sharbat, or syrup of grapes, says Moodeen Sheriff, is a very pleasant and cooling drink, and proves very useful in relieving thirst and other pyrexial symptoms in many forms of fever. I have also used it with advantage in ardorurinae, dysuria, strangury, and some cases of bilious dyspepsia. It is one of the best and most agreeable vehicles for other medicines particularly those used in dyspepsia, dysentery, diarrhoea and dropsical affections. From this combined actions of demulcent, expectorant and laxative, raisins are a frequent ingredient in Muhammadan prescriptions for catarrhal and febrile complaints. The cut branches of vine yield in spring and abundant SAP, which was formerly used as a remedy for skin diseases, and is still a popular remedy in Europe for ophthalmia"

Special Opinions: "Munakka" and 'Kismis' are different species. The former as regarded as cooling and laxative." (Assistant Surgeon Shib Chundra BhattachaIji, Chanda, Central Provinces). Grapes are largely imported from Afghanistan. The fresh fruit is grateful and useful in allaying thirst in febrile condition" (Brigade Surgeon G.A. Watson, Allahabad) (Dictionary of the Economic Products of India).