Khirni is fruit of Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard and belongs to the Sapotaceae family. Khirni tree is a commercially and medicinally important tropical tree. The fruit has been source of livelihood and nutritional support for local tribal population in India who have been using it for medicinal benefits also. It has been used in Unani medicine for various conditions like general debility, respiratory diseases, ulcers etc. since ages. The aim of this review is to highlight the medicinal properties of Khirni as mentioned in Unani Medicine and also to explore its other ethnomedical uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological studies. For this purpose, Pubmed, Elseveir, Scopus, SID and Google scholar were searched for the key terms &ldquo;Manilkara hexandra&rdquo; and &ldquo;Khirni&rdquo; up to 30th September 2023 and also Unani classical books were studied. The work on the review article was carried out at Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India, New Delhi. Khirni has various pharmacological properties including antioxidant, anti-ulcer, antiviral, antibacterial and hypolipidimic properties and also has several ethnomedical uses. In Unani medicine, Khirni is used as atonic for vital organs like brain, heart and liver. This fruit is a valuable source of compounds with health-promoting properties and can be used as good sources of antioxidants in our diet.

Khirni [Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.)]-A Review of its Uses in Unani Medicine, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

<div style="text-align: justify;">Sapota [Manilkara zapota (L) P. Royen] is an important commercial fruit crop of Sapotaceae family grown for fresh fruits and chicle production. Sapota when propagated by vegetative means, produce true to type plant material and reduces juvenile period and result in early commercial production. Various propagation techniques on different rootstocks were tried for the purpose. Among different rootstocks, khirni (Manilkara hexandra) was found most successful and is used for commercial plant propagation as it possesses high graft compatibility with sapota and plants produce fruits of excellent quality with high yield. Various vegetative propagation techniques have been standardized and used on large scale depending upon season and region. The general techniques used for sapota propagation are softwood grafting, veneer grafting, side grafting, inarching and air layering. Softwood grafting is employed in regions with moderate temperature and high relative humidity which prevent desiccation of scion stick. Veneer and side grafting using mature scion stick is also found effective in regions with variable climates. Inarching technique possess high graft survival rate and is practiced by private nurseries. Propagation through cuttings is not successful in sapota even when treated with rooting hormones. Micro-propagation in sapota by tissue culture techniques have been tried but application remains limited to academics only. This may be due to high phenolic contents and sap exudation in explant. Special protocols for successful root and shoot regeneration are required to be standardized for commercial scale plant propagation.</div>

Khirni [Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.)]-A Review of its Uses in Unani Medicine, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Propagation Studies in Sapodilla [Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen]: A Review