Calabash the miracle fruit

By
Henrylito D. Tacio
-
October 15, 2015

In Mindanao, theres a strange fruit that never fails to catch the attention of whoever sees it.
Although not very popular yet, it looks like a young coconut in appearance and watermelon in
size.

Its name is even strange: calabash. In the science world, it is called Crescentia cujete. It is
known as calabacero in Spain; totumo in Colombia and Panama, mate in Ecuador; pate in Peru;
jicaro in Mexico; higuera in Puerto Rico; and rum tree in Sri Lanka.

But most Filipinos call it miracle fruit. The reason: it cures some diseases, even cancer. In
General Santos City, a group of students from the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University found
that calabash extracts have the ability to prevent blood vessel growth and development. As
such, it could be used to help prevent the cancer cells in the human body.

The students have analyzed the effects of fruit and leaf extracts of calabash to duck eggs. In
their study, they found that the extracts have successfully halted toe formation of new blood
vessels as shown by the lower number of branching points in ducks embryo compared to the
controlled samples.

According to the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), a line
agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the students analysis showed
that the trees fruit and leaf extracts contain flavonoids such as quercetin and anthraquinone, the
important phytochemicals for antiangiogenic activities, a process that inhibits the growth and
development of new blood vessels in the body.

Antiangiogenesis controls the spread of tumor cells in the body by disabling the transport of
nutrients toward the cancerous cells, the PCHRD explained. Tumor cells, as they normally do,
start with a single cell, which then divides into more cells. The growth of malignant cells will
depend on the availability of specific nutrients being transported by blood vessels, it said.

In Davao City, the Davao Medical School Foundation has confirmed that calabash fruit has a
blood sugar lowering effect to the tested animals.

In the web site of PCHRD, it was reported the researchers administered calabash fruit decoction
(juice from boiled calabash fruit) to hyperglycemia-induced rabbits and compared effects to
Metformin, a standard drug for the treatment of diabetics (positive control) and a mineral water
treatment (negative control).
Analysis revealed that calabash fruit decoction and Metformin treated rabbits showed a
significant decreased in the amount of blood sugar in the body. While rabbits administered with
mineral water solution have constant high blood sugar levels.

According to the study, the decrease of blood sugar level was attributed to the effects of
phytochemicals found in calabash fruit responsible for the release of insulin that lowers blood
sugar in the tested animals.

Calabash is native to Central and South America. In fact, it is the national tree of Saint
Lucia. How it came to the Philippines, no one knows. In countries where it is common, it is
popular because of its medicinal properties. It contains vitamin B1, vitamin C, calcium, iron,
sodium and potassium.

The pulp, for instance, is very efficient in dealing with respiratory problems such as asthma and
cough. The juice from the pulp is used along with cinnamon, anise and nutmeg to prepare a
herbal syrup which, lessens chest disorders and treats gastrointestinal problems.

The decoction of the bark can be used to cure wounds. The leaves have the ability to decrease
blood pressure and headaches. The leaves can also be crushed and applied to wound to stop
bleeding. If mixed with castor oil, it also acts as a purgative and laxative herb.

Calabash is not only known for its healing powers but also as an ally in food preparation. In
Chinese cuisine, it is often fried and added to soups. In Japan, people buy it in the form of
marinated strips, which they use in making rolled sushi. In Burma, the leaves are boiled and
eaten with a hot and spicy fish sauce.

In Central America, where it is native, the leaves are carefully toasted and combined with other
ingredients to prepare a drink called horchata. Other edible parts are the shoots and the tendrils.

But dont use calabash too much in food preparation. It has been reported the fruit contains a
toxic compound called tetracyclic triterpenoid cucurbitacin, which can trigger stomach
ulcer. Pregnant women must also avoid consuming it as the fruit was once used to induce labor.

There are several other uses of calabash. In Africa, it is called Tupperware tree because of its
multifarious uses. When dried, the fruits shell can be used to make various kinds of utensils,
ornaments and musical instruments. The dried shells can be used to create bowls for drinking
and eating or for carrying water. The wood is used in making cattle yokes, wooden wheels and
ribs in boat building.

Indeed, theres a lucrative business waiting for those who cultivate calabash. One lady who
discovered it is Bilma Masamloc Fuertes, the woman behind Marys Miracle. I realized that
theres a demand in miracle fruit, she told Marid Agribusiness Digest. So Ive gone into many
researches to prove the benefits. And Mindanao is abundant in miracle fruit.

She came to know the calabash because of her husband who experienced stroke four
times. Since they didnt have sufficient money for the medicine maintenance, she tried to
process the calabash juice for him. She asked him to drink it and within 10 days her husband
was cured.

I wont stop researching not only about the juice but also to the other beneficial results from
miracle juice and other possible products from the fruit itself, Fuertes was quoted as
saying. And I am very proud to tell everyone that generally we see the great potential to expand
our business not only here in Davao or in the country but also to export it.

So, how do you extract the juice out of the fruit? Chris Dearne, a foreigner who has lived in
General Santos City for several years now, gives some tips in his blog, Live in the Philippines.

But before extracting the juice, be sure to select a mature fruit. Heres the reason: If you choose
an immature fruit, [the juice will have a smell] reminiscent of a football stadium urinal which has
been starved of flushing water for a while!

A fruit that has pleasant but not strong smell is best for making juice. Now the preparation:
Open the fruit and scrape out all the inside material. Chop them into small pieces and the
squash it. Once is it well-squashed into a mush, boil it for 30 minutes before draining the juice
through a clean cloth. Let the extracted juice to cool before putting it into bottles. Place the
bottles inside the refrigerator and simply drink it.

Now, you know why calabash is touted to be a miracle fruit!