Is Jambolan effective for treating diabetes?

The effectiveness of Jambolan for treating diabetes is still controversial. While studies in diabetic rats show positive effects, research on humans is inconclusive. Therefore, Jambolan should not be used alone for diabetes treatment, as its efficacy and potential side effects in humans have not been well-established.

Fruits

Jambolan – properties and benefits

Q: What are the health benefits of Jambolan fruit?

The health benefits of Jambolan fruit include antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiallergic properties in the leaves, as well as anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties in the stem. The fruit's purple color is due to anthocyanins, which fight free radicals, prevent premature aging of cells, and have been shown to kill leukemic cells. Jambolan also contains polyphenols that help prevent and treat chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases.

October 18, 2021

Jambolan ( Syzygium Cumini Lamarck ) is originally from India, having adapted well to Brazil, especially to the northeast region. It has several names in our country, such as: jamelão, jalão, jambú, jambuí, olive-do-nordeste, etc. The tree belongs to the same family as the guava and the pitanga, the myrtaceae . The oval and dark fruits are similar to the olive when ripe and, due to the effect of the color of these fruits, the tree is used in ornamentation of gardens, including, in Brasília, it is very common in flower beds and blocks. Here, in Brazil, the fruit is usually consumed fresh, but it can also be used in jams, sweets, liqueurs, wine, vinegar, jellies, pies, etc.

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What are the health benefits of Jambolan fruit?

The medicinal properties of this plant are not only found in the fruit, but in the leaves and stems as well. Like for example:

antibacterial properties,
antifungal,
antiviral and antiallergic in the leaves and anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic in the stem.

Anthocyanins, substances present in the fruit because of its purple color, fight free radicals, preventing premature aging of cells, maintaining the health of the entire organism. In addition, they serve as food dyes and studies have shown that anthocyanins also have a very important function: killing leukemic cells! Published in 2006, the master’s thesis by Daniella Dias P. Campos, from Unicamp, was based on the investigation of the effects of jambolan extract, rich in anthocyanins and which led to the death of around 90% of leukemic cells. tested the applications in healthy cells and the death of these did not exceed 20%.

Other phytochemicals present in the fruit are excellent for protecting health, such as polyphenol, preventing and treating chronic and non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases.

Studies show that fruit consumption is directly linked to the prevention of chronic and non-communicable diseases, possibly due to the increased consumption of antioxidant compounds, which protect our bodies from carcinogens that come into daily contact with our bodies, which can cause our cells to mutate. and form, in the future, a cancer. These compounds found in some fruits and vegetables help our cells defend themselves against this mutation, and jambolan has great antioxidant activity, even greater than blueberries and blackberries , which are extensively studied, with the seed being the part with the greatest antioxidant concentration than the peel or pulp, and can be used in antioxidant extracts.

And for the treatment of diabetes, does Jambolan work?

Despite reports and records that the use of jambolan to control glycemia is old, more than a hundred years, even before the discovery of insulin and that many people use it for this purpose, be it the fruit or the bark and leaves, in tea, this subject is still controversial. Several Brazilian researchers have published their studies on the effects of jambolan on glucose metabolism and show the effectiveness of the plant in diabetic rats, but when it comes to the effects on humans, the extract and the tea do not seem to be effective.

That is, the studies around this property of jambolan have not yet been concluded and elucidated, although there are old reports and the popular use of the stem and fruit to treat diabetes. Despite this, this plant should not be used alone in the treatment of diabetes, as animal studies do not guarantee efficacy in humans and, in these studies, side effects in humans are not evaluated, so it would be a risk!

Ellie Lauderdale

My name is Ellie Lauderdale, MD and I am USA based professional Nutritionist .

I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and board certified specialist in sports dietetics who is trained in integrative medicine. I have worked with hundreds of clients, from those suffering with chronic disease to professional and olympian athletes. My goal is to help optimize you from the inside so that you can feel, perform, and look your best on the outside.

Jambolan – properties and benefits

What are the health benefits of Jambolan fruit?

And for the treatment of diabetes, does Jambolan work?

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