Chrysophyllum albidum, Udara, Agbalumo, and Agwaluma are the names Nigerians call African Star Apple in the south-western, eastern and northern parts respectively.
It is a tropical plant and is abundant in Nigeria.
Sometimes people avoid buying Agbalumo because of the disappointment that could come from taking a sour one. You are not always so sure of how it will taste until you begin to eat it.
When you get a sour African Star Apple, you have no other option sometimes than to throw it away.
But you can really look beyond the taste to the health benefit it offers.
Agbalumo is a great fruit that gives you a star shape when you cut it open like an range.
This is the reason it is referred to as star apple.
There are different researches on this fruit with interesting revelations on its health benefits.
Compounds In Agbalumo
The compounds in Agbalumo are numerous.
According to a study, “the peel contains 58·9% moisture, 6·1% protein, 12·4% lipid, 4·6% ash, 62·4% carbohydrate and 14·5% crude fibre.
Also, the peel contains ascorbic acid 239·1 mg/100 g and the pulp, 446·1 mg/100 g.
Some toxicants are also present. The peel also contains 264 mg/100 g tannins and the pulp, 627 mg/100 g.
The total oxalate content in the peel is 211 mg/100 g and in the pulp, 167 mg/100 g.
Furthermore, analysis of the fruit for minerals shows the peel contains (in mg/100 g dry matter): calcium, 250; potassium, 1175; sodium, 12; copper, 2·0; magnesium, 90; zinc, 3·8; iron, 200; and phosphorus, 76·8.
The pulp, the one you love eating, contains 67·5% moisture, 8·8% protein, 15·1% lipid, 68·7% carbohydrate, 4·0% crude fibre and 3·4% ash.
Also, the pulp contains (in mg/100 g dry matter): calcium, 100; potassium, 1175; sodium, 10; copper 2·0; magnesium, 75; zinc, 3·2; iron, 10; and phosphorus, 75·4.
The hydrocyanic acid content was 5·4 mg/100 g in the peel and 6·8 mg/100 g in the pulp. The study gave the phytic acid content as 0·8 mg/100 g in the peel and 1·6 mg/100 g in the pulp.
Duet to the compounds in the fruit, Agbalumo has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of different ailments.
Health Benefits Of Agbalumo
A 2020 study is elaborate with the compounds in African Star Apple. It further highlighted the health benefits you derive from the fruit when you eat it.
1. Improves Heart Health
According to the 2020 study, the African Star Apple contains glycoside. This compound makes the fruit a good remedy for congestive heart failure.
The presence of potassium in high amount in the fruit also makes it a great remedy for alleviating heart-related diseases and stroke.
2. Boosts Immune System
The fruit is rich in vitamins C, vitamin A, Vitamin B1 and vitamin B2.
Vitamin C boosts your immune system and the truth is that in an era where the world is fighting coronavirus it makes so much sense to eat this fruit whenever you find it.
Apart from the immune boosting benefits, it also supports good functioning of your nervous system.
This is the function of vitamin B1 and B2 that are present in the fruit.
One interesting thing about the fruit is that the vitamin content remains the same in both sweet and sour Agbalumo.
The only difference is that the sweet ones are low in carbohydrates while the sour ones are high in carbohydrates.
3. Anti-bacterial Property
The fruit also contains anti bacteria properties. This were identified in the earlier cited research.
According to the research, the extracts of the seed cotyledons was successful in the treatment of C. albicans while the root extracts inhibited Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, C. tetani, Bacillus subtilis and Candid albicans.
4. Anti-inflammatory Properties
The fruit contains some phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin. This compounds help in reducing inflammation in your system.
Also, Alkaloids are beneficial for anti-inflammatory properties and these are in abundance in the African Star fruit.
Eating some Agbalumo aids digestion. Also, it has anti-diarrheal and anti-hemorrhiodal (pile) qualities.
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If you find it hard to poo, add some Agbalumo to your diet and take it for few days. You will notice a reasonable difference and total relief in few days.
Furthermore, the fruit contains probiotics such as Lactobacillus lactis and Lactobacillus plantarum.
These are friendly bacteria that promote a good gut and large intestinal health.
5. Rich In Anti-oxidants
Anti-oxidants help aid detoxification in our body.
Everyday, toxins find their way into our system and we need some scavengers to fight them.
Agbalumo contains flavonoids and one function of this antioxidant is to scavenge free radicals.
It binds to them and ensure that they are properly excreted from the body.
6. Lowers Bad Cholesterol Level
As we feed our body different foods, some with trans fat pose grave danger to us.
This fat finds its way into the bloodstream when some compounds that could stop them are not present.
This fat deposits clog the arteries and make blood flow difficult. This condition could result to heart disease after a period of time.
Interestingly, there are compounds in some foods that bind to this fat and stop them from sneaking into your bloodstream.
The Star Apple contains Saponins which possess hypocholesterolaemia property. They are able to form insoluble complexes with cholesterol significantly reducing its absorption.
7. Weight Loss Food
Fruits and vegetables have been identified as good foods for persons who are trying to lose weight or control their weight.
Vitamin B and other blood sugar and cholesterol lowering properties of this fruit further aids weight loss.
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Also, the fruit is rich in fibre and this helps you stay full with a lowered appetite for food.
Lowering the amount of food consumed is known to aid weight loss.
8. Agbalumo Is A Good Fertility Boost
Pregnant women and those Trying To Conceive are in luck with Agbalumo in their system.
Potassium and magnesium are great for women who are trying to conceive and those that are pregnant.
For men, the presence of zinc and potassium in the fruit can also boost male fertility.
However, a research also reveals there is a compound of concern in this fruit for men.
Side Effect Of Agbalumo To Watch Out
In 2019, a group of researchers found that African Star Apple also contains a compound that could affect male fertility.
This study examined the effects of C. albidum fruit methanol extract on the reproductive functions of male Wistar rats.
Ripe C. albidum fruit was extracted using methanol and subjected to phytochemical screening. Fifteen male Wistar rats (100-120 g) divided into three (n = 5) received distilled water (control), 1.0 and 6.4 g kg-1 day-1 extract, respectively, for 28 days via oral gavage.
The sperm count, motility, percentage sperm aberration, histology of testes and epididymides were examined by microscopy.
Also, serum levels of luteinising hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone were quantified using ELISA.
According to the study, sperm count significantly increased in 6.4 g kg-1 day-1 extract. Serum testosterone level decreased in 1.0 and 6.4 g kg-1 day-1 extract.
The architecture of sections of testes and epididymides showed anomalies.
At the end, the researchers concluded that C. albidum fruit adversely altered reproductive functions of male Wistar rat.
However, more research is needed to ascertain how much of this fruit that could trigger fertility issues.
One thing we know is that it is difficult to consume too much of Agbalumo.
Take few of the fruits and you will begin to notice a kind of shock in your teeth that makes it impossible to eat more.
This is as a result of the high vitamin C content. This is God’s own way of controlling how much of this fruit humans could eat per time.
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