The Kakadu Plum (aka Billygoat Plum; Terminalia ferdinandiana) fruits are soft, yellow-green in color and about 2 inches long with one large seed inside and are commonly purported to be the fruit with the highest vitamin C content known in the world!
The Kakadu Plums have growing interest in functional foods and beverages due to their content of vitamin C and polyphenols.
It is a small to medium sized Australian native tree that can reach heights up to 50 feet.
The content varies from 3.5-5.5% (wet weight) compared to orange, grapefruit and lime that contain approximately 0.5%.
They also have high levels of antioxidant, such as phenolic compounds and anthocyanins.
They are good sources of gallic and ellagic acid, very rich in chlorophyll and lutein. They also contain Herperitin, kaempferol, luteolin and quercetin.
Kakadu Plums are also good sources of the minerals magnesium, zinc, calcium, potassium, sodium, iron, phosphorous, manganese, copper and molybdenum.
When the fruits are ripe, it is normally possible just to shake the tree and have the fruits fall to the ground.
Kakadu Plums are edible and consumed either raw, cooked, or made into jams, and are one of the bush tucker plants of the Aboriginal People of Australia.
They used to make a refreshing drink from the plums, or the plums are consumed raw, made into an edible jelly, or used for their gum.
The Kakadu plum has also been utilized as a traditional medicine, as an antiseptic, digestive aide, and remedy for colds/flu; as well as used as a topical salve for aches and pains.
In scientific investigations, the Kakadu plum and its constituents have been found to have potential for bacterial malodor prevention, inhibiting the growth of foodborne bacteria, as well as exhibiting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, cytoprotective, Giardia inhibition, and apoptosis inducing activity.
#australia #vitaminC #ethnobotany
*This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.