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Common Names
Barbados Cherry, West Indies Cherry
Latin Name
Malpighia glabra
Habitat
Acerola is native to the West Indies and South America and also cultivated in India.
Traditional Uses
The fruit is edible and widely consumed in the species' native area, and is cultivated elsewhere for its high Vitamin C content.
In 1945, the Barbados cherry was analyzed by researchers at the School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, and was found to be very rich in Vitamin C. Interestingly, the analysis was inspired by the local people using the fruit to treat colds.
Medicinal Uses
Medicinally, Acerola has been used as a remedy against the flu and colds, pulmonary disturbance, liver aliments and irregularities of the gall bladder. Used in heavy doses it has exhibited benefinical effects against viral hepatitis, varicella as well as poliomyelitis.
Acerola is rich in antioxidant activity, which may be due to its high Vitamin C content. Vitamin C can only be obtained from the diet, it is required by the body to metabolize fats and proteins, for the development of teeth, bones and connective tissue and helps in wound healing. The acerola contains amounts of Vitamin C varying from 1000 – 4500 mg/100g of pulp and is one of the most important natural sources.
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