Reported by Sandeep Sarma
Guwahati: A fruit long cherished in Assamese households for its tangy flavour is now drawing increasing scientific attention, thanks to the pioneering work of retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer and botanist Jatindra Sarma. His extensive research on Garcinia species, popularly known as thekera or thoikora, has helped uncover their ecological, medicinal and economic importance.
Sarma, a former Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director of Kaziranga National Park, has dedicated years to studying the diverse Garcinia species found across Assam and the Northeast. Through a combination of field surveys, taxonomic research, ethnobotanical documentation and chemical studies, he has significantly advanced scientific understanding of this lesser-known plant group.
Currently serving as Chairman of Assam‘s State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), Sarma continues to contribute to botanical research and has authored several scientific publications focusing on Garcinia species native to the region.
One of his landmark studies, published in 2019 in the journal Natural Product Research, examined the chemical composition of six Garcinia species from Northeast India. Conducted in collaboration with scientists from the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute and other institutions, the study analysed leaf samples from Garcinia assamica, Garcinia dulcis, Garcinia lanceifolia, Garcinia morella, Garcinia pedunculata and Garcinia cowa.
Researchers identified 64 volatile compounds in the species, including significant concentrations of compounds such as (E)-caryophyllene, ?-copaene and ?-selinene. These naturally occurring substances are known to assist plants in defense mechanisms while also exhibiting potential medicinal properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities.
The research further revealed that Garcinia species from Northeast India possess unique chemical profiles that differ from those reported in similar species from the Western Ghats, suggesting new avenues for pharmaceutical and commercial exploration.
Among the various species, Garcinia pedunculata the widely consumed thekera holds special cultural significance in Assam. The fruit is commonly used in traditional fish curries, pickles and cooling beverages, while folk medicine attributes therapeutic value to it for treating digestive disorders, jaundice and diabetes.
Through field-based ethnopharmacological studies conducted across multiple districts of Assam, Sarma systematically documented the traditional uses of the fruit among local communities, preserving valuable indigenous knowledge for future research.
Beyond documenting traditional uses, Sarma has also made important contributions to plant taxonomy through the discovery of previously unknown Garcinia species.
In 2016, he described Garcinia assamica, discovered near Manas National Park. Five years later, he reported Garcinia sibeswarii from the Dulang Reserve Forest. His latest contribution came in 2025 with the identification of Garcinia kusumae from Bamunbari in Baksa district, close to the Manas landscape.
The newly described species is an evergreen tree reaching heights of up to 18 meters and is distinguished by its pinkish orange fruits, black resinous secretions and creamy-yellow flowers. Locally known as thoikora, it is also used in traditional cuisine and herbal remedies. Sarma named the species in memory of his mother, Kusum Devi.
Although the species has been provisionally classified as Data Deficient under the IUCN framework, researchers believe the discovery highlights the urgent need for further scientific surveys and habitat conservation efforts.
The discoveries have enriched scientific knowledge of Assam‘s Garcinia diversity, with the state now known to host around 12 species and varieties. They also reinforce Northeast India’s status as an important centre of diversity for the genus, which includes more than 400 species worldwide.
Sarma has consistently advocated sustainable cultivation and utilisation of Garcinia species. Growing interest in their nutritional and medicinal properties, including research into bioactive compounds linked to anti-obesity applications, has encouraged their cultivation as a potential commercial crop.
His broader contributions to botany, including publications on medicinal plants and mushrooms, have focused on bridging traditional knowledge with modern scientific research.
Conservationists and researchers say Sarma’s work has brought much-needed attention to overlooked plant species and underscored the importance of protecting the forest and riverine ecosystems that sustain them. His studies continue to highlight the immense scientific value hidden within Assam’s rich biodiversity and the need to safeguard it for future generations.