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Heimang

Despite recent studies highlighting the Heimang’s remarkable adaptability, it hasn’t yet been used much in commerce.

Key facts about Heimang

  • The Heimang tree grows widely in Manipur and other north-eastern regions
  • Its fruit have a citrus-like tartness and, it is packed with nutrients such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidants.
  • Traditional healers of Manipur called Maibas or maibis, prescribe heimang for common gastrointestinal problems like diarrhoea and dysentery.
  • It is also recommended to eat water-soaked fruit for indigestion and stomach ulcer.
  • The research found that compounds isolated from the stem of the heimang tree can significantly suppress HIV-1 activity in vitro. 
  • Local communities in the state also use heimang leaves to prepare a herbal shampoo called chinghi by boiling them with rice water.