Health benefits of the African Star Apple (AGBALUMO)
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Local Name: Agbalumo (Yoruba language) or Udara (Igbo language)
Botanical Name: Chrysophyllum albidum
Botanical Name: Chrysophyllum albidum
African star apple (Udara) is a very popular fruit here in Nigeria. Its fleshy pulp is often eaten as a snack and it is equally common in both the urban and rural areas, particularly around Southern Nigeria. Being a seasonal fruit (produces during the dry season between December and April), it is currently in peak abundance flooding the market places and street walkways at about this time of the year.
When ripe, the fruit has a tender, sweet & tart tasting inner flesh which is also dark red/orange in colour depending on its stage of ripeness. The fruit also possesses a cluster of about 5 large seeds stuck together in the shape of a star. The seeds have a shiny hard brown casing which feels like plastic and are covered with a cream white fibrous sweet membrane.
Apparently, looking around you today, the common fruit you can easily find is the ‘’Agablumo’’ fruit with more purchases taking two or more of it in a day provide you with the following health benefits.
- As with most fruits, it has low calorie because of its little fat content so it is definitely a healthy food.
- It is a superb snack because its high fibre content provides food bulk which both increases satiety and aids digestion so it is very ideal for weight watchers.
- It has a surprisingly decent amount of Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C). Clearly, Vitamin C sources are not exclusive to the citrus fruits family- in fact, Guava has much more!
- Recently published researches done here in Nigeria about Udara/Agbalumo leaves carried out on rats showed two possible medicinal uses:
- It could serve as a natural source of Anti-Oxidant booster to remove free radicals from oxidative stress disorders, and
- Its leaf extract contains Hypoglycemic (to treat Diabetes) and Anti-Platelet activities, although it also had toxic effects on some organs.
It has the following nutrient composition
Nutrient Content per 100g edible Udara/Agbalumo pulp
Nutrient Quantity
Energy (Kcal) 91.09
Carbohydrate (g) 10.49
Protein (g) 6.99
Fat (g) 2.49
Moisture (g) 73
Vitamin C (mg) 25
Nutrient Quantity
Energy (Kcal) 91.09
Carbohydrate (g) 10.49
Protein (g) 6.99
Fat (g) 2.49
Moisture (g) 73
Vitamin C (mg) 25
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