Harnessing the underutilized blood fruit (Haematocarpus validus (Miers) Bakh. f. ex Forman) through forest-to-farm transition for conservation and sustainable cultivation

Blood fruit or Khoon Phal (Haematocarpus validus Miers; Family: Menispermaceae) is a red fruit commonly harvested from the wild. It is naturally distributed across various parts of Southeast Asia, whereas in India, it is dominated in the North Eastern and the Andaman and Nicobar regions. Fruits are abundant in iron, antioxidants, Vitamin C, carotene, phenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanin pigment. Traditionally, the fruit is valued among various ethnic groups and used in traditional medicine, culinary applications, making dyes, and other beverage preparations. Because of its medicinal and nutritional properties, the seeds and fruits of blood fruit are used to treat blood-related disorders, while the roots are used for relieving itching, and the tender shoots are used for managing jaundice. This climber is found widely in forests and is believed to support forest biodiversity by attracting frugivores and sustaining the understory dynamics of the forest. In addition, fruits show potential for value addition and livelihood promotion through community forest management, forest-based livelihoods, and agroforestry intervention strategies. Though the fruit has multiple benefits, research on its standardization, product development, and broader applications remains limited, and the available information is scarce. The fall in the blood fruit population in Northeast India can be ascribed to habitat destruction and deforestation, excessive harvesting, changing climate, and limited awareness about conservation. These challenges hinder the plant's natural regeneration and threaten the stable population numbers. Hence, this review will focus on documenting the multifaceted significance of the blood fruit, identifying the knowledge gaps in its botanical and ecological study, and exploring the sustainable pathways for its conservation and commercialization in its natural distribution areas.