Why You Should Eat Plenty Of 'Agbalumo' This Season

Nigerians, particular Lagosians are familiar with the indigenous fruit known as 'agbalumo' in Yoruba and 'Udara' in Igbo. It is a round, orangish fruit, about the size of a tennis ball -at times bigger. But interestingly, other than the local name, little or nothing is known about this fruit by most of its consumers.
I remember growing up, when we would eat agbalumo and use the inside part for chewing gum.Yeah, I did that, and I'm sure most of you did too...hehe. But seriously, I knew nothing, not even the English name of this fruit, which comes during the dry season, until recently.
My mum brought some home a few days ago, asked me for the English name and I had no clue. As a result, I decided to do some research on the enigmatic fruit I had been consuming. What I found was quite interesting and educative. Read it all when you continue...

• Scientific Name:  Chrysophyllum Albidum
• English Name: African Star Apple
• Properties: Sub-spherical in shape, about 3cm in diameter, usually 5-celled and contain an edible, sweet fruit-pulp.
• Found in:  low land rain forest zones and villages.
• Excellent source of vitamins, irons, flavours to diets
• good remedies for sore-throat, tooth-ache, constipation, and much more.

A recent study by researchers at the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University Ogun State in Nigeria showed that the local cherry fruit, African star apple (Agbalumo, Udara) lowered blood sugar and cholesterol, and could be useful in preventing and treating heart diseases.

Previous studies indicate that the roots, barks and leaves of agbalumo or udara have been employed in folk medicine for the treatment of diseases. The bark is used for the treatment of yellow fever and malaria, while the leaf is used as an emollient and for the treatment of skin eruption, stomachache and diarrhoea. The cotyledons from the seeds of agbalumo are used as ointments in the treatment of vaginal and dermatological infections in Western Nigeria.

Agbalumo seed: its cotyledons is used as ointments in the treatment of vaginal and dermatological infections.

The fruit contains more vitamin C than guava or orange. They are also an excellent source of calcium, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phytochemicals.


So when next you see agbalumo in the market, do your self a world of good by buying some. And If you're already a fan, now you have more reasons to eat more.