African star apple validated to reduce blood sugar, cholesterol
• Extracts show promise in ulcer, diarrhoea, wound healing, others
They are in season. In Nigeria, the ripening of the fruits is associated with the peak of the Harmattan. The cherry-like, apple-like brownish fruit when ripen is a major article of trade in most markets across the country.
Botanically called Chrysophyllum albidum, African star apple, which belongs to the plant family Sapotaceae is an edible tropical fruit known by various tribal names. It is called Utieagadava in Urhobo, agbalumo in Yoruba, udara in Ibo, Efik and Ibibio, ehya in Igala, agwaluma in Hausa tribes of Nigeria. In southern Benin, it is called azongogwe or azonbobwe in local language “Fon, Goun” and azonvivo, azonvovwe or azonbebi in local language “Aïzo”.
It is best remembered for its delicious pulpy fruit with sweet-bitter taste, but a comprehensive review on ethno-medicine, phyto-chemistry and ethno-pharmacology of African star apple (Chrysophyllum albidum) concluded: “The present review showed that the phyto-chemistry and ethno-pharmacology (anti- oxidant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anti- microbial, hepato-protective, analgesic, anti- inflammatory and anti-plasmodial activities) of Chrysophyllum albidum mentioned above can be attributed to its phyto-constituents, which justifies its benefit in alternative medicine in the treatment of numerous diseases.”
The study published last year in Journal of Advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences J. O. T. Emudainohwo, E. O. Erhirhie, E. G. Moke and K. E. Edje from Departments of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Delta State University, Abraka, recommended: “Chrysophyllum albidium is a potential source for useful drug and its continued traditional medicinal uses should be encouraged.
“Although, the ethno-pharmacological properties of Chrysophyllum albidium highlighted above had been determined, anti-ulcerative, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-spasmodic, wound healing activities and other reported ethno-medicinal uses should be validated ethno-pharmacology through standard experimental models.
“Also, the biological mechanisms of its constituents are needed to be unveiled by incoming researchers in the aforementioned areas. This would offer a persuasive support on the clinical uses of Chrysophyllum albidium in modern medicine.”
The abstract of the study noted: “Chrysophyllum albidum (Sapotaceae), commonly called white star apple is a very useful medicinal plant common in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. This review is an update assemblage on the traditional, phytochemical and ethno-pharmacological studies carried out on it.
“Its reported pharmacological activities in this review include; antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-plasmodial anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-diabetic properties, which justifies its traditional uses. The information in this work is intended to serve as a reference guide to researchers in the fields of ethno-pharmacology, drug discovery and development of natural products from medicinal plants.”
According to the review, “in folklore medicine, Chrysophyllum albidum bark is employed for the treatment of yellow fever and malaria. The leaf is used as an emollient and for the treatment of stomachache and diarrhoea. The leaf and cotyledons from its seed are used as ointments in the treatment of vaginal and dermatological infections in Western Nigeria. The roots, barks and leaves of C. albidum are are widely used as an application to sprains, bruises and wounds in southern Nigeria. The seeds and roots extracts of C. albidium is used to arrest bleeding from fresh wounds, and to inhibit microbial growth of known wound contaminants and also enhance wound healing process.
“Chrysophyllum albidum leaves were occasionally used for fodder. Rotten or damaged fruits are also used to feed pigs. In southern Benin, it is useful in traditional rituals and also has medico- magical properties apart from its common uses. According to local socio-cultural considerations, it was also mentioned to be used to chase bad spirits and the trees can only be cultivated by older people in order to avoid early death of a young person who would attempt to propagate the species from seed.”
Study by Okoli, on the phytochemistry of Chrysophyllum albidum stem slash, seed cotyledon, leaves and root revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, phenols and flavonoids; except cardiac glycosides in the root; tannins in leaves; and phenol in seed.
The study by Ushie et al. on the methanol leaf extracts of C. albidum also revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, glycosides, terpenoids, saponins, steroids and alkaloids. MacDonald et al. also revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and tannins in Chrysophyllum albidum.
According to Duyilemi and Lawal, leave extract of Chrysophyllum albidum contains anthraquinone, tannin and cardiac glycoside and with no traces of reducing sugars, saponin and alkaloids.
According to Amusa et al., eleagnine, tetrahydro- 2 -methylharman and skatole are present in the methanol extract of Chrysophyllum albidum cotyledon seeds. The fruit was found to have the highest content of ascorbic acid per 100 g of edible fruit, which is about 100 times that of oranges and 10 times of that of guava and cashew. Chrysophyllum albidum is also an excellent source of vitamins, irons and flavours to diets. The fruits also contain 90 per cent anacadic acid, which is used industrially in protecting wood and as source of resin.
Ajewole and Adeyeye also confirmed that unsaturated fatty acids are the main components of the oil (74 per cent) of Chrysophyllum albidum.
The physicochemical and minerals analyses of Chrysophyllum albidum according to Imaga and Urua revealed the following; moisture (48.38 and 47.02 per cent), crude protein (2.75 and 2.68 per cent), carbohydrate (24.26 and 25.17 per cent), ash (4.175 and 4.68 per cent), crude fat (10.94 and 10.79 per cent) and energy value (206.50 and 208.53 Kcal) for ethanol and aqueous extract. Also, 100 g mineral composition (mg) of the fruit contains sodium (123.05), iron (42.45), zinc (34.45), magnesium (34.05), calcium (24.55), manganese (4.1) and potassium (2.05). The vitamins analyzed in mg/100 g indicated vitamin K (35.36), vitamin B1 (18.68), folate (2.02), vitamin C (3.084) and vitamin B6 (3.26). Tannins, phenols, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, reducing sugar and phlobatannins were also present in both extracts. Saponins, steroids and alkaloid were present in the aqueous extract. However, anthraquinone was absent in both extracts.
Study by Ureigho and Ekeke, (2010) on nutrient analysis of Chrysophyllum albidum revealed the presence of the following; carbohydrate (11 per cent), crude fibre (4 per cent), lipids (3 per cent), protein (7 per cent), Calcium (17.11 ppm), Iron (
Antioxidant activities
Adebayo, et al. investigated the antioxidant (DPPH free radical scavenging activity) properties of the leaves of petroleum ether, ethanol, butanol, ethylacetate, and water fractions of Chrysophyllum albidum by employing the in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Result from animal study showed that C. albidum exhibited significant (p < 0.05) differences on the activity of CAT, MDA and GSH. C. albidum has antioxidant properties by scavenging free radicals, decreasing lipid peroxidation and increasing the endogenous blood antioxidant enzymes levels. Adebayo and co-workers recommended that Chrysophyllum albidum could be employed as sources of natural antioxidant boosters for the treatment of free radical implicated oxidative stress disorders.
Imaga and Urua evaluated the antioxidant properties of Chrysophyllum albidum fruit components. Ethanol extract showed more scavenging activity of free radicals compared to the aqueous extract. Reducing power increased remarkably at 75 μg/ml in the extracts. The ethanol extract showed more reducing power than the aqueous at equal concentrations. Nitric oxide showed significant increase in the scavenging activity of the ethanol extract at 75 μg/ml (p < 0.05), while there was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the scavenging activity of the aqueous extract. The ethanol extract showed greater scavenging activity at all concentrations than the aqueous extract.
In vitro and in vivo antioxidant properties of Chrysophyllum albidum petroleum ether, ethanol, butanol, ethylacetate, and water fractions were determined in experimental models. The petroleum ether fraction showed the least antiradical activity (4057.5±809.6 g/kg) while ethyl ether exhibited the highest activity (414.4±92.0 g/kg). Myricetin rhamnoside also exhibited an excellent radical scavenging activity (314.1±60.2), which was comparable to the positive control. In animal studies, C. albidum exhibited significant (p < 0.05) differences on the activity of CAT, MDA and GSH. The authors recommended that Chrysophyllum albidum could be employed as sources of natural antioxidant boosters and for the treatment of some free radicals implicated oxidative stress disorders.
Idowu and co-workers had also reported that eleagnine; an alkaloid isolated from C. albidum seed cotyledon has antioxidant activities.
Sugar-lowering (Hypoglycemic) and cholesterol-reducing (hypolipidemic) effects
Olorunnisola, et al. evaluated the anti- hyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of ethanol extract of Chrysophyllum albidum seed cotyledon in model of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Their results showed that the daily treatment of diabetic rats with ethanol extract twice daily for seven days (100 and 200 mg/kg orally) significantly decreased (p<0.001) the blood glucose levels by 11.92 and 12.10 per cent, respectively in the treated induced diabetic rats compared to the diabetic control rats. The 200 mg/kg (except 100 mg/kg) doses of the extract showed significant (p<0.001) decrease in the hepatic lipids including Low Density Lipo-protein (LDL) ‘bad’ cholesterol- except High Density Lipo-protein (HDL) ‘good’ cholesterol- concentrations in the treated diabetic rats and treated non-diabetic rats. The various doses of the extract showed no significant effect on the hepatic HDL-cholesterol in the treated non-diabetic rats.
Liver-protecting (Hepatoprotective) activity
Abiodun et al. studied the hepatoprotective activity of leaf extract of Chrysophyllum albidum against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver damage in Wistar rats. There was significant (p<0.05) increase in serum AST, ALT, ALP and total bilirubin level in rats treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), while these parameters were reduced significantly (p < 0.05) after treatment of rats with the extract. The histopathological studies of the liver tissue of rats in the group treated with CCl4 showed marked centrilobular fatty degeneration and necrosis while the groups treated with plant extract showed signs of protection against carbon tetrachloride as evidenced by the absence of necrosis.
Effects on fertility
Onyeka, et al. investigated the anti-fertility activity of the ethanol root bark extract of Chrysophyllum albidum on sperm parameter and hormonal levels in male Wistar rats. Decrease in the caudal epididymal sperm count, motility and sperm morphology was observed in extract (100 and 200 mg/kg) treated groups compared with the control group. The ethanol extract of the root bark of C. albidum suppresses the hormonal (serum gonadotrophins, testosterone, luteinizing hormones and follicle stimulating hormone) levels and sperm production in rats. Onyeka and co-worker suggested that the root bark extract of Chrysophyllum albidum merit further investigation as a potential male contraceptive agent.
In another study, Onyeka et al. investigated the ethanol leaf extract of Chrysophyllum albidum on sperm analysis, hormonal profile, SOD and testicular histology of adult male wistar rats. The ethanol leaf extract (500 and 1000 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.05) increased body weights and testis weight, motility, morphology, and number of spermatozoa in caudal epididymitis. Histologically, testes in rats treated with the plant extract showed no alterations in the seminiferous tubules when compared to the control.
However hormonal assay showed significantly reduced levels (p<0.05) of FSH, LH and Testosterone in experimental groups while there was increase in the activity of SOD, which was dose dependent. The results thus suggest that C. albidum treatment does not cause suppression of spermatogenesis but decrease the hormonal profile.
Other studies
Methanol extract of dried barks of Chrysophyllum albidum and its chromatographic fractions (250 mg/kg) possess potent therapeutic and healing efficacy against acetic acid induced colitis in rats, possibly due to its antioxidant and anti- inflammatory properties.
Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of eleagnine (an alkaloid isolated from seed cotyledon of C. albidum) had also been investigated by Idowu and co-worker.
Study by Adewoye et al. showed that the LD50 of the methanol bark extract of Chrysophyllum albidum was 1850 mg/kg body weight in Swiss albino male mice.
Jimoh et al. investigated the histological changes in the liver and kidney of Clarias gariepinus fed Chrysophyllum albidum seed meal as maize replacer. In the study, five isonitrogenous diet containing maize were replaced by Chrysophyllum albidum at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 per cent. The control diet was without Chrysophyllum albidum, but only received isonitogenous and isolipidic. The results showed marked vacuolation of hepatocytes among the treatment after the treatment period.
Jimoh and co-workers suggested that it is technically feasible to replace maize with Chrysophyllum albidum seed meal in the diet of Clarias gariepinus without adverse effect on the kidney and liver.
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1 Comments
This fruit has 100 times more vitamin c than orange. Vitamin c fights cold etc and is greatly abundant too in lemons
We will review and take appropriate action.