Syzygium samarangense - A common fruit in the homesteads of Kerala with good nutritive and medicinal properties (Rose apple or chambanga)

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Syzygium samarangense - A common fruit in the homesteads of Kerala with
good nutritive and medicinal properties (Rose apple or chambanga)
Technical Report · July 2017
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.33028.27524
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Anandakumar Selvaraj
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
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KERALA KARSHAKAN e-journal July 2017

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July 2017 KERALA KARSHAKAN e-journal
Syzygium samarangense
A common fruit in the homesteads of Kerala with good nutritive
and medicinal properties (Rose apple or chambanga).
32

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KERALA KARSHAKAN e-journal July 2017

AND UNNI RAM. A. H

Syzygium samarangense is a tropical fruit with evergreen
character which belongs to the family Myrtaceae. It is of
origin from Asia. It produces a pink eshy fruit which is eaten
fresh. The fruit is oblong, pear-shaped, and 5–12 cm in length,
with four eshy calyx lobes and 1–4 seeds. The tree can be grown
as an ornamental, and aains a height of seven meters. Common
names include Java apple, water apple, Semarang rose-apple and
wax jambu. In India, water apples are found in Kerala, west Bengal,
East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh and in other humid places.
In Telugu, these are called kammarikayalu. In Kerala it is commonly
called as chambanga which is found in almost all the homesteads
in Kerala. It is mainly eaten as a fresh fruit and also used to make
pickles (ChambakkaAchar). These fruits are also used to make
wine and juice.
Flower and fruit
The owers of rose apple tree are white in colour and
measure about 2.5 cm diameter. Each ower has four petals and
several stamens.The edible fruits of rose apple are bell-shaped
and their color varies from white to light green or green or red to
crimson and purple, and from dark purple to black. The fruits of the
wild plants measure about 4 cm to 6 cm in length. Theowers of
wax apple and even the fruits that follow are not just conned to
the leaf axils, but they may appear on any part of the tree’s trunk
and branches. The wax apple tree is regarded as a heavy bearer
and each tree may yield as many as 700 fruits annually. The fruit
tastes a lile sweet and soar. The fruit that is found in Kerala are
either pink or mauve coloured.

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July 2017 KERALA KARSHAKAN e-journal
Propagation and cultivation
Air layering is the most successful method of
propagaon and the plant will start bearing earlier
than the plants that are propagated by seeds.
The germinaon percentage of the seeds are less
and since they are recalcitrant seeds they have to
be sown immediately aer collecng it from the
plants. The plant prefers moist low land tropics and
it can grow up to an elevaon of 1300 MSL. It is
suscepble to chilling and freezing injury. It requires
an annual mean rainfall of 1500 – 1200 mm. it
prefers a sunny condion for beer owering and
fruing but it can withstand shady condion. The
plant requires a reliable water supply. It can grow
well in a wide range of soil preferably a well-drained
one. It requires a soil pH of 6 – 7.5. The seedlings
when planted will commence bearing within 5 – 9
years.
Health benefits
• Vescalagin, a chemical compound found in
Syzygium samarangense, has anti-hyper tri-
Nutritive properties

Energy 105 kJ (25 kcal)
Carbohydrates 5.70 g
Fat 0.30 g
Protein 0.60 g
Vitamins
Thiamine B1 0.020 mg (2%)
Riboavin B 2 0.030 mg (3 %)
Niacin B 3 0.800 mg (5%)
Vitamin C 22.3 mg (27 %)

Calcium 29 mg (3%)
Iron 0.07 mg (1%)
Magnesium 5 mg (1%)
Phosphorus 8 mg (1%)
Potassium 123 mg (3%)
Sodium 0 mg (0%)
zinc 0.06 mg (1%)
Cholesterol 0 mg

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KERALA KARSHAKAN e-journal July 2017
glyceridemic and an-hyperglycemic acvies,
which are helpful in bringing down the blood
sugar as well as triglyceride levels. It is one of
the best fruit for diabetes paents.
• The fruits contain an alkaloid called jambosine,
posses an-fungal and anbioc acvies against,
Staphylococcus aureus, and Mycobacterium
smegmas.
• The fruits are rich in bre content. So these fruits
will help in resolving conspaon.
• The fruits when consumed will help in hydrang
our body and hence it is recommended to
consume it during the summer mes and thereby
prevenng dehydraon.
• Intake of vinegar prepared Syzygium
samarangense may be eecve in pung o
kidney stone formaon. At the same me, these
fruits are helpful for the digesve process, in
addion to lowering the cholesterol levels.
References:
 “Cytotoxic chalcones
and anoxidants from the fruits of Syzygium
samarangense (Wax Jambu).” Food chemistry
107.2 (2008): 813-819.
 . “A dihydrochalcone
from Syzygium samarangense with
ancholinesterase acvity.” Philippine Journal
of Science 134.2 (2005): 105.
 

 

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