In his recent Mann ki Baat radio program, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned Bedu or Himalayan Fig. "Friends, many such commendable efforts are also being seen in our other hill state, Uttarakhand. Many types of medicines and plants are found in Uttarakhand, which are very beneficial for our health. One of them is the fruit – Bedu. It is also known as Himalayan Fig," he said.
PM Modi also spoke about the importance of this fruit. "In this fruit, minerals and vitamins are found in abundance. People consume it not only in the form of fruit, but it is also used in the treatment of many diseases. In view of these qualities of this fruit, now the juice of Bedu, jams, chutneys, pickles and dry fruits prepared by drying them have been launched in the market," he added.
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Speaking about the marketability of the fruit, PM Modi said, "With the initiative of the Pithoragarh administration and the cooperation of the local people, it has been successful in bringing Bedu to the market in different forms. Bedu has also been launched in the online market by branding it as Pahari Fig. Due to this, farmers have not only found a new source of income, but the benefits of the medicinal properties of Bedu have started reaching far and wide as well."
The native Himalayan fig holds immense medicinal values
Such is the popularity of the Bedu that it is a part of Kumaoni folk song, Bedu pako bara masa which translates to figs ripen throughout the year.
Natural pain relievers
As per a research study, Bedu can be a safe alternative to pain relievers like Aspirin and Diclofenac. The study conducted on lab rats tested the analgesic effects of extracts from the wild Himalayan fig.
The pain relief property of the Bedu is from two major components Psoralen and Rutin. Researchers found that while Psoralen helped to block an enzyme called 'Cyclooxygenase-2' (COX-2), which is also blocked by pain relievers such as Diclofenac, Rutin helped bind the mu-opioid, a major binding site in Morphine.
The study done by researchers at Lovely Professional University found that Bedu has analgesic effects at 400 milligrammes per kilogram (mg/kg) dose in particular.
In several rural areas, the fruit is being used to cure backache problems.
Other medicinal values
Scientifically known as ficus palmata, the Himalayan fig is also used in treating several diseases like gastrointestinal disorders, hypoglycemia, tumour, ulcer, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and fungal infections.
As per a 2017 study, titled "Wild Himalayan Fig: A Nutraceutical under exploited fruit of Western Himalayan Region – A Review" published in the International Journal of Advanced Research, this fruit rich in polyphenolic compounds, anthocyanin and flavonoids mainly Kaempferol. Citing other studies, it says "figs are an excellent source of minerals, vitamins A, B1, B2 and C, dietary fibre, carbohydrates, essential amino acids as well as phenolic substances. It shows very good sensory acceptability due to its taste, color and aroma. Figs are used as medicine and also used in reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease."
