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 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 scent. Pistillate flowers grow on long racemes and staminate flowers are found in small bunches. Fruit are 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 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 sour taste and becomes sweet when ripe.

Bignay fruit is helpful to lower cholesterol, weight loss and maintain 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 trunk diameter of 20 to 85 cm. The tree has yellow brown bark, terete branchlets which are glabrous to densely ferrugineous to pubescent. Leaves are leathery, oval shaped, evergreen which 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 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. Pistillate inflorescence are axillary, simple or four branched and measures 4 to 17 cm long. Pistillate flowers measures 2.5 to 3 by 1.5 mm. Pedicles are pubescent to glabrous and is about 0.5 to 2 mm long. 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 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 its fruits possess numerous health benefits. The tea prepared from bark is useful for weight loss. Intake of one liter of Bignay tea provides health benefits such as healthier heart, weight loss and lower cholesterol levels. Let us discuss on health benefits which are provided with the consumption of Bignay fruit:

1. Antioxidant activity

This fruit have natural anti-oxidant activity due to the presence of catechins which counteracts free radicals found in the body. Enormous presence of free radicals causes 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.

2. 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 body from unwanted substances. Consuming Bignay tea daily promotes colon functions and prevents abnormal colon muscle contraction that results in bloating and abnormal cramps.

3. Weight loss

Consumption of this fruit helps to maintain fitness level with consumption of low fat. It could be mixed with condiment or make 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.

4. Urinary tract problems

Bignay is helful for treating urinary tract infections. It helps to heal infections which could damage urinary tract health. Bignays helps to make stronger and 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 illness.

5. Treatment for snake bites

In Asian countries, Bignay have been used for treating poison of snakebites. It is a cure for snake venom and 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.

6. Regulation of blood pressure

Research have shown that this fruit possess blood pressure lowering qualities. It is very helpful for the people with high hypertension. The patients suffering from these problems should consume tea prepared from Bignay four times in a day. It helps to lower blood pressure and avoid various health ailments related to it. It also enhances immune system and cardiovascular muscles.

7. Liver health

Bignay is directly associated for promoting overall health. Liver is one of the most imperative parts of the body that needs right consideration as well as treatment. Bignay tea supports to lower levels of SGPT and SGOT by guarding and reinvigorating liver health. Consume this tea four times in a day which helps to prevent liver from diseases.

8. 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 which reinvigorates and makes 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.

9. Cardiovascular health

Bignay is loaded with flavonoids which are beneficial for heart muscles. It possesses anti-carcinogenic and anti-ageing qualities. Bignay eliminates free radicals and promotes the activities of cardiovascular system and safeguards heart. It also lowers the level of bad cholesterol and promotes absorption of good cholesterol.

       10.  Eye health

The presence of vitamin A in buni fruit helps to maintain the health of eye and also prevents the premature myopic eyes.

     11.  Treating Syphilis

The people believe that the use of buni fruit helps to treat the disease Syphilis though the research is still needed. The studies which are conducted by biologists and doctors discover that the brewing of this leaves helps to cure syphilis.

     12.  Prevent cancer

Buni fruit possess the antioxidants which help to prevent the cancer as well as premature aging. It counteracts the free radicals and its effects and also lowers the development of cancer cells.

     13. Skin Rejuvenation

The Vitamin E and Vitamin C helps to nourish the skin, improves the degeneration process, eliminate the dead skin cells and also rejuvenate the skin. It provides the 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, solution is prepared from boiled leaves which are used for bath to treat painful joints.

Precautions                                                                                                 

• The bark has toxic alkaloid which 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 sauce for fish dishes.
• The pulp is used in desserts such as bavarois, cakes and ice cream.
• In Indonesia and 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:

https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=506448#nullS

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Antidesma+bunius

https://drhealthbenefits.com/food-bevarages/fruits/health-benefits-bignay-fruit

http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/health-benefits-nutrition-values-of-bignay/#gref

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antidesma_bunius

http://www.stuartxchange.com/Bignay.html

http://wikiwel.com/wikihealing/index.php?title=Bignay

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