Antidesma bunius is a species of fruit tree in the family Phyllanthaceae. It is native to Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Its common Philippine name and other names include bignay, bugnay or bignai, Chinese-laurel, Queensland-cherry, salamander-tree, wild cherry, and currant tree. This is a variable plant that may be short and shrubby or tall and erect, approaching 30 meters in height. It has large oval-shaped leathery evergreen leaves up to about 20 cm long and seven wide. They are attached to the twigs of the tree with short petioles, creating a dense canopy.
The species is dioecious, with male and female flowers growing on separate trees. The flowers have a strong, somewhat unpleasant scent. The staminate flowers are arranged in small bunches and the pistillate flowers grow on long racemes which will become the long strands of fruit. The fruits are spherical and just under a centimeter wide, hanging singly or paired in long, heavy bunches. They are white when immature and gradually turn red, then black.
Each bunch of fruits ripens unevenly, so the fruits in a bunch are all different colors. The skin of the fruit has red juice, while the white pulp has colorless juice. The fruit contains a light-colored seed. The fruit has a sour taste similar to that of the cranberry when immature, and a tart but sweet taste when ripe. This tree is cultivated across its native range and the fruits are most often used for making wine and tea and is also used to make jams and jellies. It is often grown as a backyard fruit tree in Java. There is an inverse correlation between the ability to taste phenylthiocarbamide and bitterness in A. bunius.[rx]
| Bignay Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Bignay |
| Scientific Name: | Antidesma bunius |
| Colors | Green to yellow to pink to red and bluish to violet |
| Shapes | Globose or ovoid, 5 to 11 mm by 4 to 7 mm |
| Flesh colors | White |
| Taste | Sour, sweet |
| Health benefits | Antioxidant activity, Colon health, Weight loss, Urinary tract problems, Treatment for snake bites |
Bignay is a nourishing and fresh fruit which are found abundantly in Southeast Asian nations. It is popular for its health benefits. Fruits are small in size, brown and smooth. Antidesma bunius is the scientific name of Bignay fruit. Bignay fruit is also known from these names such as Chinese Laurel, Black Currant Tree, Currant Tree, Currentwood, Salamander Tree, Nigger’s Cord, Wild Cherry, Bugnay or bignai, Herbert River-cherry, Queensland-cherry, and Salamander-tree.
It is able to grow 15 to 30 meters high having a trunk diameter of 20 to 85 cm. Leaves are leathery, evergreen, oval-shaped, and is about 20 cm long and 7 cm wide. This species is dioecious which means male and female flowers grow on separate trees. Flowers possess strong and unpleasant scents. Pistillate flowers grow on long racemes and staminate flowers are found in small bunches. Fruit is globose or ovoid which is 5 to 11 mm by 4 to 7 mm in size hanging singly or paired in long and heavy bunches. Fruits are green at first which turns to yellow to pink to red and bluish to violet when fully matured. The fruit skin has red juice and the white pulp has colorless juice. Each fruit contains a straw-colored seed which is oval, compressed measuring 6 to 8 mm by 4.5 to 5.5 mm. When the fruit is immature, it has a sour taste and becomes sweet when ripe.
Bignay fruit is helpful to lower cholesterol, weight loss and maintain a healthy heart. Fruits are used to make Bignay tea. It is also used for preparing jams, vines, syrups, and other foods due to its nourishing and reinvigorating flavor.
Plant
Bignay is a dioecious, evergreen, and perennial tree growing upto 15 to 30 meters in height with a trunk diameter of 20 to 85 cm. The tree has yellow-brown bark, terete branchlets which are glabrous to densely ferruginous to pubescent. Leaves are leathery, oval-shaped, and evergreen that measures 20 cm long and 7 cm wide. Leaves are distichous having petiole furrowed. It is short and glabrous to ferrugineous to pubescent. It possesses pubescent, linearlanceolate and caduceus stipules. Lamina of the leaf is oblong to elliptic, apex acuminate, base obtuse or rounded to shallowly cordate, glabrous, and glossy green above. An inflorescence is staminate, axillary measuring 6 to 15 cm long and consists of 3 to 8 branches having deltoid to elliptic and pubescent bracts. Staminate flowers are sessile measuring 3 to 4 mm by 3 mm. The pistillate inflorescence is axillary, simple or four branched, and measures 4 to 17 cm long. Pistillate flowers measure 2.5 to 3 by 1.5 mm. Pedicles are pubescent to glabrous and is about 0.5 to 2 mm long. The calyx is cupular and measures 1-1.5 by 1.5 mm. An ovary is glabrous to very sparsely pilose and ellipsoid. Fruits are glabrous, ovoid or globose in shape and are about 5 to 11 mm by 4 to 7 mm. Fruit is green which later on turns into yellow, pink, red, or bluish to violet when fully ripened. It consists of the hard kernel in straw-colored, compressed, oval, ridged, or fluted and is about 6 to 8 mm by 4.5 to 5.5 mm.
Health Benefits of Buni Fruit
Bignay fruit contains provitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, Vitamin B1, iron, minerals, fiber, potassium, and phosphorus. This small and round fruit is well known for its health benefits. As it is gooseberry-sized with reddish hued, it is also called Queensland cherry. Leaves as well as their fruits possess numerous health benefits. The tea prepared from the bark is useful for weight loss. Intake of one liter of Bignay tea provides health benefits such as a healthier heart, weight loss, and lower cholesterol levels. Let us discuss on health benefits which are provided with the consumption of Bignay fruit:
- Antioxidant activity
This fruit has natural anti-oxidant activity due to the presence of catechins which counteracts free radicals found in the body. The enormous presence of free radicals causes the premature onset of wrinkles, cancer, and fine lines. The deficiency of antioxidants leads to these conditions. An intake of Bignay in form of tea or whole fruit helps to prevent these conditions.
- Colon health
Tea made from Bignay acts as a natural colon cleanser. This tea helps to eradicate unwanted toxins from the body. It has natural detoxifying properties which assist to lose weight and supports to look young. It helps to promote digestion and is also beneficial for colon health. It eliminates toxins and detoxifies the body from unwanted substances. Consuming Bignay tea daily promotes colon functions and prevents abnormal colon muscle contraction that results in bloating and abnormal cramps.
- Weight loss
Consumption of this fruit helps to maintain fitness level with consumption of low fat. It could be mixed with condiments or made as tea. Consume the tea made from this fruit to promote digestion and regulate waist diameter. It possesses cholesterol-lowering qualities and hunger deterring qualities.
- Urinary tract problems
Bignay is helful for treating urinary tract infections. It helps to heal infections that could damage urinary tract health. Bignays helps to make them stronger and more muscular person. It eliminates all infections which pertains tummy or ingestion system and makes it healthy. The daily consumption of Bignay helps to prevent fatal and harmful illnesses.
- Treatment for snake bites
In Asian countries, Bignay has been used for treating poison of snakebites. It is a cure for snake venom and is used as an effective medication for bites of snakes. Consume Bignay to have strength for performing as a proven antidote. It has been used in some parts of Asia for treating this serious problem.
- Regulation of blood pressure
Research has shown that this fruit possesses blood pressure lowering qualities. It is very helpful for people with high hypertension. Patients suffering from these problems should consume tea prepared from Bignay four times a day. It helps to lower blood pressure and avoid various health ailments related to it. It also enhances the immune system and cardiovascular muscles.
- Liver health
Bignay is directly associated with promoting overall health. The liver is one of the most imperative parts of the body that needs the right consideration as well as treatment. Bignay tea supports lower levels of SGPT and SGOT by guarding and reinvigorating liver health. Consume this tea four times a day which helps to prevent liver diseases.
- Gastrointestinal health
It promotes metabolism and assimilation and also treats gastrointestinal ailments. It is effective as it provides an advantageous effect. It is loaded with vitamins that reinvigorate and make you fresh and if you are trying to shade some weight then mix it with organic substances to the diet. Bignay helps to support the digestion level that helps to lower infections. Moreover, this fruit promotes immune health.
- Cardiovascular health
Bignay is loaded with flavonoids which are beneficial for heart muscles. It possesses anti-carcinogenic and anti-aging qualities. Bignay eliminates free radicals and promotes the activities of the cardiovascular system and safeguards the heart. It also lowers the level of bad cholesterol and promotes the absorption of good cholesterol.
10. Eye health
The presence of vitamin A in buni fruit helps to maintain the health of the eye and also prevents premature myopic eyes.
11. Treating Syphilis
People believe that the use of buni fruit helps to treat the disease Syphilis though research is still needed. The studies which are conducted by biologists and doctors discover that the brewing of these leaves helps to cure syphilis.
12. Prevent cancer
Buni fruit possesses antioxidants that help to prevent cancer as well as premature aging. It counteracts the free radicals and their effects and also lowers the development of cancer cells.
13. Skin Rejuvenation
Vitamin E and Vitamin C help to nourish the skin, improve the degeneration process, eliminate the dead skin cells and also rejuvenate the skin. It provides white, smoother, glowing, and toned skin.
14. Treating ulcers and itching
The presence of anti-inflammatory properties helps to treat the skin diseases such as boils, mosquito bites, allergies, and acne. The fruit paste, leaf, and crushed should be applied to the wound.
15. Cure for diabetes
It also cures the diabetes effectively. The health problems such as gastric issues, dysentery, and indigestion are also cured by this fruit.
Traditional uses
- Leaves are used to cure snakebites.
- Fruits and leaves are used for treating hypertension and anemia.
- It is also helpful for syphilitic affections.
- In Vietnam, bark and stem are used for treating fevers.
- In India, the solution is prepared from boiled leaves which are used for baths to treat painful joints.
Precautions
- The bark has a toxic alkaloid that is poisonous.
- Pregnant women should not use it because it could cause abortions.
- Roots are also poisonous.
How to Eat
- Ripe fruits are cooked or consumed fresh.
- Green fruits are used to flavor fish soup dishes.
- Fruits are made into preserves, jam and combined with other fruits for making jelly.
- It is also used to produce soft drinks, syrup, brandy, liqueur, and wine.
- It is used in a sauce for fish dishes.
- The pulp is used in desserts such as bavarois, cakes, and ice cream.
- In Indonesia and the Philippines, young and tender leaves are consumed with rice.
- In China, leafy shoots are used for making tea.
- The fruits are used to make jams.
- Leaves are used in salads.
Other Facts
- The reddish timber is used for producing tresses, beams, rafters, firewood, light constructions, and charcoal.
- The wood is used to make cardboard.
- It is planted as a windbreak, ornamental, living fence, hedge, in home gardens, in agroforestry, and roadside tree.
References
