27/08/2022
BENEFITS OF AFRICAN PEAR (DACRYODES EDULIS)
Pharmacy on your plate: African Pear (Ube)
Botanical Name: Dacryodes edulis
Popular Name: African Pear
Local Nigerian Name: Ube (Igbo)
African pear is a fleshy luscious fruit that is rich in oils and minerals. It is high in Potassium and can make a significant contribution to your dietary fibre which makes it good for the digestive system like most other fruits. It has been noted to particularly have high calcium content. In fact, it is so amazing that the calcium content from just 100g of this pear can supply the daily requirement for calcium, and calcium is an all time requirement for the development and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth.
Nutritional Composition/100g (Dry weight) of African Pear
Energy 444.7kcal/1867.7kj
CHO 13.5 Ca- 690
Protein 4.14 Mg- 450
Fat 31.9 K- 2380
Fiber 17.9 P-220
Minerals and Vitamins 10.8 Na- 80
Moisture 12.04
Botanically known as Dacryodes edulis, the African pear is an evergreen tree of an African origin precisely from the eastern part of Nigeria (Igboland). The African pear is also prevalent in other African countries such as Gabon, Cameroun etc and each country and region has different names for the African pears for example; Ibo calls the fruit ube, southwestern part of Nigeria call it eleme, Gabon call it Atanga, Cameroonians call it safouin (safou) while some other parts of the world call it bush-butter pear, butter fruit or African plum.
The Dacryodes edulis fruit (ube) has been scientifically proven to possess a broad range of medicinal, pharmacological and biological properties that are highly beneficial to human health. African pears (ube) are believed to be anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, diuretic, and antispasmodics in nature.
Researchers believe that these properties are as a result of the chemical constituents of the pears such as phytochemicals, minerals, sugars, vitamins, lipids and protein. Literally speaking, African pear is a fleshy pulpy and luscious buttery fruit, which is richly packed with minerals, vitamins and oils.
Reaching a height of 18–42 m in the forest but not overshooting more than 12 m in plantations, African pear is basically an annual fruit often harvested during the raining season. The African pear can be eaten raw, fried, roasted or tenderized in hot water before eating. It can be eaten alone but is ideally enjoyed together with cooked, roasted or boiled corns/maize, which makes the duo a perfect companion in-terms of their seasonality.
The pulpy pericarp of the African pear appears buttery/oily in nature and packed with minerals and nutrients. African pear is characteristically reddish in colour while still unripe however, the fruit tends to turn blue-black or violet in colour while the flesh is pale to light green once ripen. With an oval/oblong shape in appearance, the African pear contains small clustered seeds, enclosed by thin mesocarp.
The leaves are feather-like in appearance with leaflets of up to 3 to 4 cm by 2–3 cm on each side of the axis. The upper part of the leaves is shiny in appearance. The African pear tree starts flowering at the onset of the rainy season and begins fruiting within 2 to 6 months after flowering. Both the pulp and seeds of the African pear contain reasonable quantity of oil. The oil comprises of linoleic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid and stearic acid.
Knowing African pears way too well, I can tell you for sure that this fruit can easily get soften (cooked) on its own or even get spoilt when packaged in airtight container or packaging. By mere leaving ube in your mouth for few minutes can easily get it soften as if it has been cooked or roasted. This unique attribute of African pear is as a result of heat damage. Studies however revealed that the main reason for the heat damage of ube is due to its high heat of respiration, which is an excellent indicator of the metabolic activity of the tissue.
Benefits of African Pear (Dacryodes edulis)
Medicinal Purposes
The African pear tree is used by traditionalist for producing herbal medicines, which is used for treating several health disorders such as fever, wound, dysentery, sores and skin diseases. Moreover, studies reveal that the extracts of this fruit contains antioxidizing, diuretic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, anti sickle-cell and anti-spasmodics properties. These immense properties of African pear is as a result of the broad range of chemical compounds present in the fruit such as; saponins, terpenes, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids.
Maintenance of Healthy Teeth
African pear (ube) has a high calcium content, which makes it capable of supplying the basic requirements needed for the growth and maintenance of healthy teeth including bones.
Alternative for Oil
Studies reveal that the African pear (ube) can be used as an alternative source of fats and oil. The fruit possess fatty acid composition and physico-chemical characteristics, which makes them a great potential for industrial use. African pear oil can also act as a substitute for coconut oil, vegetable oil, palm oil or groundnut oil for both domestic and industrial use.
Prevention of Vascular heart diseases
The oil of African pear contains linoleic acid, which is a vital polyunsaturated fatty acids. This type of fatty acid helps in the prevention of vascular heart diseases. Besides, the oil of African pear has a greater amount of oxidative stability unlike those with unsaturated acids.
Prevention of Skin Irritation
The oxidative stability of the African pear oil has the potentials of preventing skin irritation. The oxidation ability of the African pear oil makes it suitable for use as a body cream. The exudates from African pear (D. edulis) contain antibacterial agent and if added in creams help to stabilize emulsion. The oil is very smooth on the skin and protects the skin from dryness.
Incense production
The African pear exudates and resin can be used traditionally for the production of burning incense. The pleasant smell and smoke from the African pear exudates while burning, is believed to be capable of wading off evil spirit.
Highly Nutritive
African pear is an excellent source of vitamins C and E, which are antioxidative in nature. These vitamins help in maintaining glowing and healthy skin as well as slow down the aging process.
African pears are also rich in niacin, thiamine, magnesium, pantothenate folate, potassium, calcium, amino acids, fiber, phosphorus, riboflavin, carbohydrates and vitamin B6.
Consumption Benefits
African pear recipe is among the simplest recipe you can think of. You can either soak the pear (ube) in hot water, roast it in charcoal or even pop it into your mouth for few minutes and the fleshy buttery pulp gets soften and ready for consumption.
Just like the avocado pear (Persea americana), the fleshy buttery pulp can act as a substitute for butter or margarine for eating bread. Grab some of this unique fruit and give it a try.
Cancer Prevention
Researchers agree that eating African pears is capable of preventing women from getting postmenopausal breast cancer. This is as a result of its anti-cancerous properties.
Other uses
The resin found in African pears can be burnt for lighting, the tree can be cut and used as firewood while the leaves can be used as manure for cultivating farm produce. The tree has huge size, thus can be used to improve soil quality as well as for the prevention of erosion.
DISCLAIMER
This post is for enlightenment purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for professional diagnostic and treatments. Remember to always consult your healthcare provider before making any health-related decisions or for counselling, guidance and treatment about a specific medical condition.
-it can also be used as an agent of formulation for toothpaste Pharmacists have claimed that exudates of native pear can also be used as a part of the ingredients that formulates toothpaste. This is because scientific evaluation has it that the fruit has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. According to a study by D. E. Okwu and Fred U. Nnamdi of the Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, the high concentration of calcium and phosphorus in the fleshy areas of the fruit is known to improve the dentine formulation protecting the enamel from demineralisation. So, when next time you sense a need to make your teeth healthier and also the need to make any skin rash to disappear, grab as many local pears as possible!
“Pears have antioxidant properties, because they are rich in Vitamin C and therefore can protect body cells from oxygen-related damage caused by free radicals. The presence of fiber in pears helps prevent constipation and also ensures regularity of bowel movement. “Studies have revealed that eating pears help protect women against postmenopausal breast cancer. Pear is described as a hypoallergenic fruit, that is, less likely to produce an adverse response than other fruits.
“Regular consumption of pears might lower the risk of age-related macular degeneration, the main cause of vision loss in older adults. It has been reported that pears help lower blood pressure and also reduce the chances of a stroke,” he said. Osaretin, who is also the Head of Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, added that the high content of pectin in pears makes them useful in lowering of cholesterol “Pears have been found to be good for colon health. Pear juice, being rich in fructose and glucose, serves as a very quick source of energy. Drinking a glass of pear juice is believed to be helpful in bringing down fever.” He added that the antioxidant properties of African pear makes it good for strengthening of the immune system, while the consumption of pear juice helps relieve pain in various inflammatory conditions. “The presence of boron in it helps the body retain calcium and thus, reduces the risk of osteoporosis. The folic acid in pear prevents neural tube defects in infants,” he said
