Crateva religiosa commonly known as garlic pear is actually a moderate-sized deciduous tree having an unpleasant smell, with trifoliate leaves and garlic-scented flowers. They grow wild near streams and are widely grown as an ornamental and sacred plant, especially around temples, in India and Bangladesh. Tree usually flowers and fruits in the month of Dec-May. Leaves and young shoots are cooked as a vegetable, flowers are pickled and berries and seeds are also edible.

Flowering tree Crateva religiosa, is called the sacred garlic pear and temple plant, and many other names include Balai Lamok, abiyuch, Barna, Varuna, bidasi, Garlic pear tree, Caper tree, Three-leaf caper, and Obtuse Leaf Crateva. The name Crataeva is given in the honor of Crataevus, a Greek botanist, who was living in the time of Hippocrates and the name religiosa indicates its growth near the places of worship. It is a member of the capers family. The tree is occasionally called the spider tree because the showy flowers bear long, spidery stamens. It is native to Japan, Australia, much of Southeast Asia, and several South Pacific islands. It is grown elsewhere for fruit, especially in parts of the African continent. Crateva species are unpleasant-smelling, with trifoliate leaves and garlic-scented flowers. It grows wild near streams and is widely grown as an ornamental and sacred plant, especially around temples, in India and Bangladesh.

Plant

Garlic pear is a moderate-sized deciduous tree, 15m (50ft) tall and 9m (30ft) wide. It grows well in sun or partial shade and normally prefers moist, rich, neutral to acid soil. The bark is grey, and the wood is yellowish-white, turning light-brown when old. Leaves are clustered at the ends of branchlets, with a common petiole 5 to 10 centimeters long, at the summit of which are tree leaflets. Leaflets are ovate-lanceolate or ovate, 7.5 to 12 centimeters long, 4 to 6 centimeters wide, and pointed at the base, with a rather slender point at the tip. Flowers occur in terminal corymbs, are about 5 centimeters in diameter, greenish-yellow, and the stamens are purplish. The petals are ovate or oblong, with the claw half as long as a limb.

Fruit

Garlic pears are rounded or ovoid-shaped fruit and are 3 to 5 centimeters in diameter. The fruit has a hard and rough rind and has an unpleasant smell and burning taste. The seeds are about 10 centimeters in length, numerous, kidney-shaped, and embedded in a yellow pulp. Tree flowers and fruits in the month of Dec-May

History

Garlic pear scientifically known as Crataeva religiosa is considered to have originated from Japan, Australia, much of Southeast Asia, and several South Pacific islands. But now because of its wonderful taste, it is globally distributed in India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China. In India, it is found in Peninsular India, Western India, Gangetic Plains, and Eastern India, up to Tripura and Manipur. It is also found in Sikkim and Andaman and Nicobar Island. It is found mostly along the bank of the river and streams and near to the temple side.

Nutritional Value

Apart from their burning taste, garlic pear is a good source of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Consuming 228 grams of garlic pear offers 123.3 mg of Vitamin C, 3.67 mg of Iron, 12.1 g of Total Dietary Fiber, 40.13 g of Carbohydrate, 0.415 mg of Manganese, 107 mg of Phosphorus, 693 mg of Potassium, 0.13 mg of Copper, and 55 mg of Magnesium.

Health benefits of Garlic pear

Garlic pears are valuable fruits that have been widely used and appreciated for their wonderful flavor since ancient times. Beyond being a tasty addition to the diet, garlic pears are packed with nutrients and nutritional value. Some of the health benefits of garlic pears include:

1. Immunity

A healthy dose of Vitamin C helps to protect our body from infections and maintains healthy bones and teeth. It also improves our body’s ability to repair wounds and keeps us immune from bacteria, viruses, and infection. Not only is it a well-known component of our immune system, it is also necessary for collagen, the main structural protein found in connective tissue. Vitamin C, taken orally, helps wounds heal faster and better. Applied topically, it protects the skin from free radical damage from exposure to UV rays. From all the above-mentioned benefits of vitamin c, we can easily say that regular consumption of vitamin C-rich foods like garlic pear is quite beneficial for overcoming all the problems.

2. Restless leg syndrome

Iron present in garlic pear is quite essential for the proper functioning of the body parts. Iron deficiency may cause several life threatening diseases and restless leg syndrome is one of them. Most research on this syndrome has concentrated on iron. The lower level of iron in the blood is actually a major cause and hence proper intake of iron supplements in required levels as per doctor’s consultation can cure this problem. Apart from that regular consumption of iron-rich foods like garlic pear is also one of the best options for solving these problems.

3. Weight Loss

High-fiber diets are more filling and give a sense of fullness sooner compared to animal and meat-based diets. Additionally, the soluble prebiotic fibers have been shown to turn off the hunger hormones and to increase the hormones that give a sense of fullness. Those hormones are made in the wall of the gut. New research has shown that the bacterial makeup in the colon in overweight people is abnormal to the extent that they manufacture and absorb almost twice the number of calories as do normally. Prebiotic fibers will help change this bacterial balance in a favorable way. Therefore including fiber-rich food such as garlic pear is found quite beneficial for overcoming weight loss goals.

4. Strengthens Bones

Garlic pear consists of a good amount of manganese which is quite important for the normal development of the human bone structure. It helps to boost the mineral density of the spine. It has also proved to be helpful for post-menopausal women. Manganese deficiency in women after menopause can increase the number of trace minerals and cause minor fractures. Research is going on to establish concrete proof that manganese can help prevent osteoporosis and many other diseases. Garlic pear consists of 0.415 mg of manganese which is actually 18.04% of the daily recommended value.

5. Urination and Excretion

Mineral phosphorus present in garlic pear helps in keeping the kidney healthy and its functions active. The mineral ensures the proper release of waste from the kidneys through the process of urination and excretion. Apart from that phosphorus helps to achieve a healthy balance of all fluids and materials that are removed from the body. It helps balance the level of uric acid in the body by increasing the quantity and frequency of urination. It helps in keeping the body toxin-free. It helps regulate the fluid levels in the body.

6. Lower Risk of Heart Problems

Regular consumption of garlic pear is quite beneficial for overcoming heart problems since it consists of a good amount of potassium. Taking a sufficient amount of potassium will put you at a lower risk of developing heart problems like stroke and heart disease. If you’ve previously been diagnosed with a heart problem, you’ve likely been told to watch your level of potassium.

To complete your heart health profile be sure you’re receiving a sufficient amount of exercise each day, such as a walk, strength training, or yoga.

7. Proper Growth

Copper present in garlic pear is quite essential for normal growth and health. Therefore, it is very important to include this mineral in balanced levels in your regular diets. It is also helpful in the protection of the skeletal, nervous as well as cardiovascular systems. If you suffer from a copper deficiency, the normal and healthy growth of organs and tissues, as well as their proper oxygenation from an ample red blood cell concentration, would be impossible. Regular use of garlic pear is also one of the best ways to get the required amount of copper.

How to Eat

• Leaves and young shoots are cooked as a vegetable.
• Flowers are pickled.
• Berries and seeds are also edible.
• Young shoots and fruits of Crataeva religiosa are eaten and used in curries.
• Fruits of this tree are used as spice because of their garlic taste.

Other Traditional Uses and Benefits of Garlic Pear

• The bark is used in urinary disorders like kidney and bladder stones, antiemetic, and calculous affections, and as an antidote in snakebite
• A bitter, a pungent herb that has diuretic and rubefacient effects, improves digestion, and prevents and treats the formation of stones in the kidney and bladder.
• The stem bark is used to encourage the appetite and to decrease the secretion of the bile in Unani medicines.
• A preparation called ‘Varunal’ consists of Crataeva along with Eclipts, Picrorrhiza, Achillea, Cichorium, Solanum, Arjuna, and Cassia seeds is used against hepatitis, edema, ascites, urinary stones, and arthritis.
• The bark is contraceptive and cytotoxic and useful in kidney bladder stones, fever, vomiting and gastric irritation.
• Roots and bark are laxative and lithotriptic and increase appetite and biliary secretion.
• Leaves are used as externally rubefacient and used in rheumatism.
• Leaves are useful in irregular menstruation and also in stomachic, whereas the bark is used to cure convulsions and tympanites in the Philippines.
• Crushed leaves are applied in the form of paste for swelling of feet and also for a burning -a sensation in the soles of feet.
• Bark and leaves are pounded and applied in the form of a poultice in rheumatism.
• Fresh leaves bruised with little vinegar applied to the skin.
• Bark and roots are rubefacient and vesicant.
• Roots and bark in the form of the decoction are used as calculus affections.
• It is useful as antipyretic, antithetic, antihelminthic, and demulcent, in blood and chest diseases.
• Berry like globose fruits of Crataeva is edible and used as astringent and the rind of the fruit is used as mordant in dying.
• People use the leaves and bark of this tree to cure jaundice, eczema, rabies in the Pallaypatty village of Tamil Nadu.
• The bark of this tree is useful in family planning.
• Juice of fruit, leaves, and bark is applied to cure snakebite, infected wounds, and cuts.
• It increases appetite and controls other skin diseases.
• Leaves are used as vegetables and the dried leaves are smoked in Caries of nasal bones, the smoke being exhaled through the nose in neurologic pains.

References

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Garlic Pear - Nutritional Value, Health Benefits

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