A small evergreen tree. Leaves obovate-oblong or elliptic-lanceolate, 6.3 to 9 cm long and 2.5 to 3.8 cm wide, glabrous with entire margins; petioles 0.6 to 0.9 cm long. Flowers axillary or terminal, solitary or in spreading fascicles; pedicels 4-8 mm long or absent; bracts scale like; sepals 4.5 mm; petals 4, male flowers 3 to 8 together, female flowers solitary or 2 to 3 together. Fruit berry, globose, dark purple when ripe. Seeds 5 to 8, compressed in purple pulp.

The fruit has anthelmintic and cardiotonic properties; astringent (bark and fruit); coagulates semen and stimulates the central nervous system (aerial part). Seed oil astringent, demulcent, emollient ad soothing.

Garcinol, iso-garcinol, cyanidin and (-)-hydroxy-citric acid (fruit); cambogin and camboginol (latex).

In skin diseases and dysentery (leaf); as an astringent (bark and fruit) and ointment (in conditions such as ulcers and dry skin) (seed oil). The fruit is used in the form of juice to treat gulma, deficient digestion, thirst and diseases of mouth. Used to treat piles, dysentery, tumours, pains and heart ailments.

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.