Fruit, a berry, enclosed within the enlarged, 10-ribbed, reticulately veined calyx, which is 4.1 cm long and 2.5 cm broad; berries, stalked (stalk, 2.2 cm long), almost round having a pinhead-sized depression at the end; diameter, 1.4 to 1.6 cm; weight, 2.15 g; volume, 1.32 ml; fully mature fruits primrose yellow 601/2 at full maturity.
The fruit is juicy, containing 61.4 per cent extractable juice and 76.7 per cent moisture. The total soluble solids content of the juice is 12.5 per cent.
The ovoid-shape fruit contains an accrescent calyx covered by a brilliant yellow-orange peel. It completely covers the fruit during its growing and ripening, and protects it against insects, birds, diseases and bad climatic conditions.
The acidity of the juice is 1.84 per cent. The fruits contain 5.97 per cent total sugars, 3 per cent reducing sugars, 2.81 per cent non-reducing sugars, 0.64 per cent tannins and 0.52 percent pectin.
This plant reported to have various antioxidants, antimicrobials and anticancer compounds such as physalin B and F which have a great potential for tumors treatment. They contain a good amount of vitamin C which is 24.45 mg per 100 ml of juice.
Physalis is effective for treatment of several disorders such as asthma, liver, kidney and bladder dysfunctions, wounds, hemorrhoids, and helminthic diseases.
Studies shows that the plants of Physalis minima are bitter, appetizing, tonic, diuretic, laxative, useful in inflammations, enlargement of the spleen and abdominal troubles. Malays use this plant for healing of cancer.
Physalis minima or pokok letup-letup
