Interesting Facts On Star Apple fruit
Star Apple Fruit is Scientifically called as “ Chrysophyllum caimito ” .
ORIGIN OF STAR APPLE FRUIT
Chrysophyllum cainito is a tropical tree of the family Sapotaceae .
Star Apple Fruit is native to the Isthmus of Panama, where it was domesticated.
Star Apple Fruit has spread to the Greater Antilles and the West Indies and is now grown throughout the tropics, including Southeast Asia.
OTHER NAMES OF STAR APPLE FRUIT
cainito and caimito likely come from the Mayan words cab (juice), im (breast), and vitis (sap), via Spanish.
Tar apple, star apple, purple star apple, golden leaf tree, abiaba, pomme de lait, estrella, milk fruit and aguay.
In Vietnam, Vú Sữa (lit.: milky breast). In Sierra Leone the fruit is referred to as Bobi Wata or Breast Milk Fruit, in Malayalam: Swarnapathry meaning [the tree with] golden leaves.
Cambodia, Phlae Teuk Dos which means milk fruit due to its milky juices inside, Hong Kong, it is called 牛奶果 (lit.: milk fruit), and in China, it is called 金星果 (lit.: golden star fruit).
APPEARANCE OF STAR APPLE FRUIT
Star apples are small to medium-sized fruits, averaging 5 to 10 centimeters in diameter, and have a round to oblate shape.
Star apples fruit’s skin is thin, glossy, and leathery when young, ripening to red-purple, green, and dark purple shades.
Star apples skin also clings tightly to the rind, which varies in color, depending on the variety, and contains a sticky, inedible latex.
Star apples are aromatic and will develop a matte appearance with some wrinkles when ripe.
TASTES OF STAR APPLE FRUIT
The flesh around the seeds is the only portion of the fruit consumed and has a mild, sweet, and delicate flavour reminiscent of lychee, persimmons and rambutan.
VARIETIES OF STAR APPLE FRUIT
Star apples fruit also exists in three colours, dark purple, greenish brown and yellow. The purple fruit has a denser skin and texture while the greenish brown fruit has a thin skin and a more liquid pulp; the yellow variety is less common and difficult to find.
NUTRITIONAL CONTENTS OF STAR APPLE FRUIT
100 g of Edible Portion*
• Calories: 67.2kcal
• Moisture: 78.4-85.7 g
• Protein: 0.72-2.33 g
• Carbohydrates: 14.65 g
• Fibre: 0.55-3.30 g
• Ash: 0.35-0.72 g
• Calcium: 7.4-17.3 mg
• Phosphorus: 15.9-22.0 mg
• Iron: 0.30-0.68 mg
• Carotene: 0.004-0.039 mg
• Thiamine: 0.018-0.08 mg
• Riboflavin: 0.013-0.04 mg
• Niacin: 0.935-1.340 mg
• Ascorbic Acid: 3.0-15.2 mg
• Tryptophan: 4 mg
• Methionine: 2 mg
• Lysine: 22 mg
Interesting Facts On Star Apple fruit
Rejuvenates Skin: Star apple is rich in antioxidants like vitamin C and polyphenols, which helps reduce free radical damage and reduce sun damage, wrinkles, inflammation , maintain overall skin health.
Treats Cancer: Polyphenols in star apple could inhibit the growth of cancerous cells (osteosarcoma). Star apple is an anti-cancer agent that are required to establish its potential for cancer treatment.
Reduce Inflammation: Star apples contain lupeol acetate, a bioactive compound that reduces inflammation , also reduce cell inflammation.
Promotes Healthy Heart: Star apples are a good source of cardiac glycosides, used in folk medicine as heart tonics. Star apples may help reduce the risk of heart problems and maintain cardiovascular health.
Lower Blood Pressure: The alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids in star apples can inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity. ACE constricts the blood vessels, which may raise blood pressure levels.
Controls Cholesterol: Star apples contain Vitamin B3 (niacin) boosts brain functionality, maintains your skin, nervous system and digestive system healthy as well as converting the food we eat into energy.
Manage Diabetics: Star apples include alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, triterpenoids, and steroids compounds which can inhibit the glucosidase enzyme, which turns complex carbs into glucose and spikes blood sugar levels.
Rich in Antioxidants: Star apples are rich in polyphenolic antioxidants like catechin, epicatechin, and quercetin – powerful that can reduce the damage caused by harmful free radicals and inflammation.
Boosts Immunity: Vitamin A and Vitamin C helps to make T cells in the bone marrow then matures in the thymus. Star apples helps the immune system to detect viruses then kills or activates other key cells to assist in removing the bacteria, virus.
Weight Management: Due to the high amount of dietary fibre found in star apple, it is very beneficial to keep our weight in control and Star apples also helps to reduce the body weight.
Fortifies Bone Health: calcium and phosphorus minerals in Star apple also assist in repairing and restoring bones. Calcium absorption is assisted by vitamin C, an antioxidant that prevents oxidative damage to our bones.
Prevents Anemia: Star apple has a good source of iron that helps to produce hemoglobin and help in carrying oxygen to your body’s organs and transports carbon dioxide (CO2) from organs and tissues to your lungs.
Cleans Kidney and Liver: Star apple is diuretic in nature, that means consumption of star apple can improve duration of urination and helps in flushing out extra water, toxins, uric acid, calcium and other unwanted things from our body, this is the main cause of stone formation in the liver or kidneys.
Supports Digestion: A good digestive system helps to prevent abdominal pain, constipation, loose tool, diarrhea, gastrointestinal symptoms, and bloating. Fibre and phosphorus are present in Star apple which helps with removing these in digestive system.
