Achariaceae

Achariaceae is a family of plants that includes shrubs and trees, with some species being climbing herbs. These plants are found throughout tropical regions. Many species in this family were previously classified under the Flacourtiaceae family.1

A notable characteristic of Achariaceae is the use of seeds from certain species, such as Hydnocarpus, as a source of chaulmoogra oil. This oil was historically important in treating leprosy, with hydnocarpic acid believed to possess antibiotic properties. Similarly, seeds from Caloncoba echinata provided gorli oil, also used for leprosy treatment, though these have since been superseded by modern antibiotics.1