What are the benefits of bignay? Scientists from the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), have recently published a study touting therapeutic and nutritional benefits of bignay and lipote fruit. Based on what they discovered, there might be more to these fruits than it seems.
Benefits of bignay: This indigenous fruit has a lot of potential
Dr. Katherine Castillo-Israel and two of her colleagues from UPLB have done a study regarding the bignay fruit. According to her, “If we can prove their nutritional and possible therapeutic properties, then we can promote the utilization of these berries into functional foods.”
What they discovered was that the bignay fruit contained a lot of antioxidants. These are substances that can potentially prevent cancer. It does this by killing off free radicals, which can cause cellular damage, that can potentially lead to cancer.
When compared with the unripe fruit, the researchers found that the ripe bignay yielded more antioxidants. They also discovered that the number of antioxidants in bignay can vary depending on how it is treated. Blanching it in hot water, as opposed to steaming or not treating it, increased the antioxidants found in bignay1.
Another aspect that the researchers touched upon is the commercial viability of the fruit. This is because aside from the medicinal benefits of bignay, the fruit itself is also delicious. The researchers stated that it can be processed into jams, jellies, beverages, or even ice cream. Increased production of bignay could potentially help farmers, since it can be turned into high-value products.
Other researchers support their claims
Interest in the benefits of bignay has been around for quite a while. Because of this, other studies have been conducted into the viability of bignay as medicine. One study2 found that an extract from the stem, barks, and leaves has anti-diabetic properties.
The fruit extract could also be used as a kind of organic pesticide against Epilachna beetles. These beetles eat leaves and are treated as pests in farms.
Another study3 found that aside from the high antioxidant content, bignay fruit also had high levels of vitamin C. This in itself shows that bignay has a lot of nutritive properties, and can be a good source of vitamin C.
Lipote fruit has also piqued the interest of researchers
Another fruit that the researchers studied is the lipote. While not as popular as the bignay, they found that the fruit also has similar benefits. They found that the fruits and seeds of the lipote also had high levels of antioxidants. Interestingly, the seeds of the lipote had higher levels of antioxidants compared the flesh of the fruit.
Compared to bignay, however, farming the lipote can be more difficult. This is because the bignay comes from a fast-growing shrub, while the lipote comes from a tree that takes years to grow. However, the lipote is endemic to the Philippines, so it can still be turned into a viable crop for farmers.
Key Takeaways
Now that there is proof of the medicinal properties of these fruits, does this mean you can use them as medicine? While the benefits of bignay are many, this doesn’t necessarily mean that it could replace medication.
The best way to go about it would be to use these fruits as a supplement to whatever medication you’re already taking. You should talk to your doctor to discuss how to incorporate these fruits into your diet.
It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor every time you’re trying out something new. This is especially true if you’re already taking medication, since some medications might have additional side effects when taken alongside certain fruits.
Learn more about Herbal Medicine here.
[embed-health-tool-bmi]
