Malay gooseberry

Malay gooseberry 

Otaheite gooseberry or Malay gooseberry or Acidus Phyllanthus fruit is the fruit produced by  a  tropical and sub-tropical plant which has the same name, this plant believed to originate from Madagascar or India. This tree is classified into shrubs,  maximum high can be 9 up to 10 m.

This taste of this fruit is very sour, in some southeast Asian tropical countries, although not  really popular, the fruit used as fresher  food, eaten fresh or processed into a similar kind of sweets and spicy salad.

So far there is no large-scale cultivation of the fruit is. This tree just planted as a shade plant in the yard or garden. In addition to fruit in Indonesia and Malaysia the leaves of this tree is also used as fresh vegetables even if only used on a limited basis.

Characteristics of the tree:

Shrubs or small trees with a height of up to 9-10 m, branching low and tenuous,  grow well at altitudes up to 1000 asl, many branching, and thick bark. 

Single leaf, short-stemmed, arranged in a series such as leaf sprigs forming compound,  leaf form blade oval to ellipse and end  pointed, base obtuse to rounded, flat edge,  smooth hairless, length of 2 cm to 7 cm, width 1.5 cm to 4 cm. Light green color. Single leaf, 2-7 cm long, arranged in such branches pinnate compound leaves.

Flowers unisexual or double, red in color, arranged in panicles up to 12 cm, when autumn leaf stalk will leave a mark on the real branch.  A flower cluster formation length of 1.5 cm to 12 cm, out along the branch, petal star shape, and pink crown. There are male and female flowers in one bunch, Otaheite gooseberry closely related with Phyllanthus emblica and P. niruri, both of which are medicinal plants.

This plant now spread to many tropical regions such as Southeast Asia (southern Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia and northern Malaya), the Mauritius islands, Réunion and Rodrigues in the Indian Ocean, as well as in Guam, Hawaii and several other islands in the Pacific Ocean . In 1793, this plant was brought to Jamaica from Timor, and spread throughout the islands of the Caribbean, followed by entry into Central and South America.

The fruit:

Stone fruit, round with 6-8 ribs, whitish yellow to resemble candles, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, hung alone or in strands. Whitish pulp, sour and lots of watery, in the middle there is a hard core grains with 4-6 seeds.  It tasted really sour, used as various tidbit of food or a kind of spicy salads, especially in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Malay gooseberry 

Food Value Per 100 g of Edible Portion* ): 

Moisture 91.9 g

Protein 0.155 g

Fat 0.52 g

Fiber 0.8 g

Ash 0.51 g

Calcium 5.4 mg

Phosphorus 17.9 mg

Iron 3.25 mg

Carotene 0.019 mg

Thiamine 0.025 mg

Riboflavin 0.013 mg

Niacin 0.292 mg

Ascorbic Acid 4.6 mg

*According to analyses made in El Salvador.

Benefits for Health

Malay gooseberry has several ingredients that are beneficial to the health of the body, including B complex vitamins and carotenoids which can prevent various diseases. Cermai fruit also contains minerals, such as iron and zinc.

Therefore, Malay gooseberry  fruit can be used for various purposes in the health sector, including:

1. Maintain Cholesterol Levels

Malay gooseberry  fruit is able to inhibit the oxidation of bad cholesterol or LDL, while maintaining cholesterol levels in the blood. Malay gooseberry  is also able to prevent atherosclerosis or plaque buildup in the arteries thanks to its strong antioxidant content, thereby protecting itself from heart attacks.

2. Prevent Diabetes

Malay gooseberry  fruit contains high polyphenols which can protect the body from sugar which has high oxidative properties. Malay gooseberry  fruit also helps absorb insulin which triggers a decrease in blood sugar in diabetics.

3. Benefits of Antioxidants

Malay gooseberry  fruit contains vitamin C, polyphenols, and tannins which are antioxidants, so they can ward off free radicals and protect the body from various diseases by protecting healthy body cells.

4. Anti-cancer

Malay gooseberry  fruit can inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the body through its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants can fight chemicals that are carcinogenic. Malay gooseberry  fruit is also able to reduce the harmful effects of radiation and chemotherapy.

5. Protects the Liver

Malay gooseberry  fruit can protect the liver from oxidative damage caused by consuming alcohol or other chemicals.

6. Smooth Digestion

Malay gooseberry  contains high fiber, so consuming the fruit regularly can improve the digestive system. Fiber is needed by the body so that food can be processed properly until the process of disposal through the intestines. Consuming Malay gooseberry  is also useful as a good diet.

7. Vitamin needs

Because it contains various kinds of vitamins, ranging from B complex, C, and A, consuming Malay gooseberry  fruit can also complement your daily vitamin needs. An example is vitamin A which is important for collagen production. Collagen is a compound that the skin really needs to stay young and elastic.

In order for collagen production to work properly, it is recommended to consume mirrormai on an empty stomach. The goal is that collagen degradation can be slowed down, thereby preventing the premature aging process.

Scientific classification:

• Kingdom: Plantae (Plants)
•       Subkingdom: Tracheobionta (Vascular Plants)
•           Super Division: Spermatophyta (Produces seeds)
•               Division: Magnoliophyta (flowering plants)
•                   Class: Magnoliopsida (dashed two / dicots)
•                       Sub Class: Rosidae
•                           Order: Euphorbiales
•                               Family: Euphorbiaceae
•                                   Genus: Phyllanthus
•                                       Species: Phyllanthus acidus

Other fruit to read : Oriental persimmon (Diospyros kaki).