About Borthekera:
- Garcinia pedunculata, popularly known as Bor Thekera in Assamese, is an evergreen tree related to the more familiar purple mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana).
- The tree is endemic to the south-eastern regions of Asia such as parts of Bangladesh and north-eastern parts of India.
- The sun-dried slices of the ripe fruit are used for culinary and medicinal purposes and are known to have therapeutic properties like anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, nephroprotective, and even neuroprotective activity.
- With scientific interventions seeking proof of these claims, multiple studies have reported that G. pedunculata is a rich source of antioxidants.
- Uses: The ripe fruit is eaten cooked or raw. Sun-dried slices are much valued and used for preparing delicacies like “tenga diya masor jol” meaning Assamese sour fish curry.
Q1) What is the role of antioxidants?
Antioxidants are man-made or natural substances that may prevent or delay some types of cell damage. These are found in many naturally available foods.
Source: Medicinal plant commonly called Borthekera in Assamese found to have cardioprotective potential
Last updated on Sep, 2026
→ UPSC 2027 Notification will be released on 13 January 2027 at upsconline.nic.in.
→ Check out the latest UPSC Syllabus here.
→ Download UPSC Model Answers for Mains 2026
→ UPSC Mains Question Paper 2026 is out now for Essay & GS Paper 1, 2, 3 & 4.
→ UPSC Calendar 2027 has been released.
→ Enroll in Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mains Test Series 2027 for structured answer writing practice, expert evaluation, and exam-oriented feedback.
→ Join Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mentorship Program 2027 for personalized guidance, strategy planning, and one-to-one support from experienced mentors.
→ Go through the UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers to enhance your preparation.
→ UPSC has released UPSC Toppers List 2025 with the Civil Services final result on its official website.
→ Also check Best UPSC Coaching in India








