Health benefits of Hog Plums ~ Spondias mombin

 

Spondias mombin, also known as yellow mombin or hog plum is a species of tree and flowering plant in the Anacardiaceae (Sumac family). The plant is native to lowland moist forests of the Amazon in Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, the three Guianas, as well as southern Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, and the West Indies. The tree was introduced by the Portuguese in South Asia in the beginning of the 17th century. It has been naturalized in parts of Africa, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, The Bahamas, Indonesia, and other Caribbean islands. It is rarely cultivated except in parts of the Brazilian Northeast. The plant has been around forever, secretly flourishing in our backyards and enhancing our health and meals with its medicinal value and sweet-sour tangy flavor.

Hog plum, Jamaica-plum, Yellow mombin, Ambarella, Ashanti plum, Golden apple, Hog plum, Jamaica plum, Spanish plum, Thorny hog plum, True ambarella, True yellow mombin, Yellow mombin, gully plum, java plum and hog-plum tree are some of the popular common names of the plant. The plant is used medicinally in traditional medicine against lower back pain, rheumatism, digestive track problems, angina, sore throat, malarial fever, diarrhea, urethritis, gonorrhea, stomach pain, colds, dysentery, laryngitis, ophthalmia, and many others. Root ashes are used in making soap. The wood is used for posts, boxes, matches, general carpentry, tool handles, etc. Seeds are also edible. The pulp can be eaten fresh or made into desserts or juice. The young leaves are consumed raw or cooked.

Hog Plum Facts

Plant Description

Hog plum is a small, elegant, deciduous tree with a dense and spreading crown and grows up to 20 m (66 ft.) tall and at least 1.5 m (4.9 ft.) in trunk diameter. Its bark is greyish-brown, thick, rough, often deeply grooved, with blunt, spine like projections. When slashed, it is pale pink, darkening rapidly. Branches are low and branchlets are glabrous. The plant is found growing along roadsides, fence rows, and pastures, forests in the coastal, moist limestone, lower mountain regions, evergreen lowland forest or semi-deciduous forest. The plant prefers a medium to heavy, well-drained, fertile soil.

Leaves

Leaves are alternate, compound, comprising five to nine pairs of leaflets, once pinnate with an odd terminal leaflet. Stipules are absent and rachis is about 30-70 cm long. Leaflets are elliptic, oblong or oblong lanceolate, broadly acuminate, glabrous about 5-11 cm long and 2-5 cm wide. Apex is long acuminate, asymmetric, truncate or cuneate. Margins are entire, glabrous or thinly puberulous.

Flower

Inflorescence is branched, terminal panicle with male, female and hermaphrodite flowers.  About 5 sepals are present and are shortly deltoid, 0.5-1 cm long. About 5 petals are white or yellow, oblong, 3 mm long, valvate in bud, becoming reflexed; stamens 10, inserted beneath a fleshy disc; ovary superior, 1-2 mm long while styles are short and erect. Flowering normally takes place in between January to May.

Fruits

Fertile flowers are followed by an ovoid or ellipsoid drupe, 3-4 cm long and 2-2.5 cm in diameter. They are initially green turning to dull light orange to yellow or brown as they mature. The fruits are found in clusters of 1-20. Epicarp is thin, enclosing a juicy orange or yellow mesocarp about 3-6 mm thick; endocarp is large, with a soft, fibrous, grooved coat surrounding about 4-5 small seeds. The fruits have a sharp, somewhat acid taste and are edible. Fruits appear in between July to September. The seed has an oil content of 31.5%.

Ethno-medical Information on Hog plum (Spondias mombin)

Plant Parts Used	Country		Ethno-medical Uses	Type Extract/Route		Used for
Bark	Africa		·         Bark and/or leaves used for coughs, fever, constipation, yaws, gonorrhea, Tape worm, stomach problems, and as a childbirth aid.	Infusion/Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Bolivia		·         Used for wounds and injuries.	Poultice/External		Human Adult
Bark	Brazil		·         Used for malaria	Infusion / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Brazil		·         Used for malaria, fever, diarrhea, and vaginal infections.	Not Stated		Human Adult
Bark	Brazil		·         Used as an astringent, anti-inflammatory, stomachic, anthelmintic, vermifuge and antispasmodic; for diarrhea, dysentery, and hemorrhoids.	Decoction/Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Brazil		·         Used for tonsillitis and sore throat.	Infusion/Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Brazil		·         Used as an antispasmodic, astringent, tonic, emetic; for diarrhea, gonorrhea, and hemorrhoids ·         Used to reduce swelling in the feet caused by erysipelas	Decoction/Oral Decoction/External		Human Adult
Bark	Brazil		·         Used as an astringent and emetic; for fever, diarrhea, dysentery, blenorrhagia, and hemorrhoids.	Decoction / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Brazil		·         Used as an emetic, astringent, tonic, and stimulant; for colic, stomach problems, erysipelas, and blenorrhagia.	Decoction / Oral Decoction / External		Human Adult
Bark	Brazil		·         Used as an astringent, emetic; for diarrhea, dysentery, blenorrhagia, and hemorrhoids.	Decoction / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Caribbean		·         Used as an antiviral, myorelaxant, and utero-tonic	Not Stated		Human Adult
Bark	Colombia		·         Tikuna Indians use it as a contraceptive, analgesic and hemostat; for diarrhea, metrorrhagia and stomachache.	Decoction / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Colombia		·         Used as a contraceptive and for menstrual disorders.	Infusion / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Colombia		·         Used for diarrhea and vaginal infections.	Not stated		Human Adult
Bark	Colombia		·         Used as a contraceptive.	Infusion / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Colombia		·         Used as a wash for wounds.	Decoction / External		Human Adult
Bark	Cuba		·         Used for uterine cancer.	Decoction / Douche		Human Adult
Bark	Guianas		·         Used for coughs and colds. ·         Used for hemorrhages and sores.	Decoction / Oral Decoction / External		Human Adult
Bark	Guinea		·         Used for leprosy.	Decoction / External		Human Adult
Bark	Guinea		·         Used for coughs.	Not stated / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Guyana		·         Creoles use it for diarrhea and stomachaches.	Decoction / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Haiti		·         Used for urethritis.	Infusion / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Mexico		·         Used by the Mayas for dysentery.	Decoction / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Mexico		·         Used for bladder and kidney stones.	Decoction / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Nicaragua		·         Used for fever, diarrhea and infections. ·         Used for skin rashes and sores.	Decoction / Oral Decoction / External		Human Adult
Bark	Nicaragua		·         Garifuna Indians use it for fever, infections, and diarrhea and skin rashes.	Decoction / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Peru		·         Shipibo-Conibo Indians use it as a cicatrizant, hemostat, astringent, vaginal wash, and antibacterial; for wounds, debility, dehydration, diarrhea and infections.	Decoction / Oral Decoction / External		Human Adult
Bark	Peru		·         Used for vaginal infections and following an abortion or miscarriage.	Infusion / Douche		Human Adult
Bark	Peru		·         Used for ovarian cancer.	Infusion / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Peru		·         Used as an antispasmodic, astringent, analgesic, contraceptive and stomachic; for asthma, diarrhea, vaginal infections, erythema, cysts, laryngitis, menstrual pain and psoriasis.	Infusion / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Peru		·         Resin extracted from the bark and used as a vulnerary and cicatrizant for wounds.	Resin / External		Human Adult
Bark	Peru		·         Used as a contraceptive.	Infusion / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Peru		·         Used for tuberculosis, diarrhea, and intestinal ulcers.	Decoction / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Peru		·         Combined with cedar, cashew, and guava leaves and used for vaginal infections and wounds.	Decoction / Douche		Human Adult
Bark	Peru		·         Used as an astringent; for fem ale reproductive tract and genital disorders. ·         Used as a contraceptive	Decoction / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Peru		·         Used for yeast infections, fungal infections, and skin fungi.	Decoction / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Peru		·         Powdered bark is used on the site of snakebite.	Powder / External		Human Adult
Bark	Peru		·         Powdered bark is used as a hemostat for cuts, wounds, and hemorrhages. ·         Used as an antiseptic wash for wounds. ·         Taken for diarrhea and intestinal ulcers.	Powder / External Decoction/External Decoction / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Peru		·         Used as a hemostat and vulnerary for wounds. ·         Used for erysipelas, leishmaniasis, and vaginal infections.	Powder / External Decoction / External		Human Adult
Bark	Peru		·         Used as an antispasmodic, contraceptive, and stomachic; for blenorrhagia, hemorrhoids, digestive problems, dermatitis, diarrhea, erythema, cysts, laryngitis, psoriasis, menstrual pain, intestinal ulcers, vaginal infections, and tuberculosis.	Decoction / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Peru		·         Campa-Ashaninca Indians use it as an astringent; for cutaneous leishmaniasis	Powdered / External		Tapir
Bark	Peru		·         Used for wounds. ·         Used as an antiseptic vaginal wash. ·         Used for gastritis, dysentery, stomach pain, renal and kidney problems, hemorrhoids, blenorrhagia, herpes, diarrhea, menstrual pain, excessive menstrual bleeding, ulcers, uterine problems, and vaginal problems. ·         Used as a contraceptive, and for internal and external hemorrhages.	Poultice / External Decoction / Douche Decoction / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Upper Volta		·         Used for leprosy.	Not stated		Human Adult
Bark	Venezuela		·         Warao Indians use it for diarrhea, cough, pertussis, stomachache, skin lesions, and dysentery.	Decoction / Oral		Human Adult
Bark	Various		·         Used in the tropics as an astringent; for diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhoids, gonorrhea and leucorrhea. ·         Used to heal wounds.	Decoction / Oral Powder / External		Human Adult
Stem bark	Guianas		·         Used as a sudorific; for gonorrhea, diarrhea, stomachache, and fatigue.	Infusion / Oral		Human Adult
Bark/Leaf	Belize		·         Used for sores, rashes, and insect stings.	Decoction / External		Human Adult
Bark/Leaf	Jamaica		·         Used for edema.	Infusion / Oral		Human Adult
Bark/Leaf	Peru		·         Used for anemia.	Decoction / Oral		Human Adult
Bark/Leaf	Peru		·         Used for diarrhea.		Decoction / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf	Belize		·         Used for diarrhea and dysentery. ·         Used for wounds and inflammations.		Decoction / Oral Poultice / External	Human Adult
Leaf	Brazil		·         Used for gastralgia, dyspepsia, and diarrhea.		Decoction / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf	Brazil		·         Used internally and externally as an antiviral for herpes.		Infusion / Oral Infusion / External	Human Adult
Leaf	Brazil		·         Used for constipation, gastralgia, and laryngitis. ·         Used for eye infections.		Infusion / Oral Infusion / Ocular	Human Adult
Leaf	Brazil		·         Used as an astringent, antibacterial, molluscicidal, and antiviral: for angina, laryngitis, mouth inflammation, tonsillitis, prostatitis, and herpes.		Infusion / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf	Brazil		·         Used for fever, constipation, stomach pain, childbirth complications, pain in the eye and ears, and as a stomachic and refrigerant.		Infusion / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf	Brazil		·         Used for stomach pain, constipation, fever, cystitis, urethritis, sore throat, laryngitis.		Not stated / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf	Cameroon		·         Used for chronic diarrhea.		Decoction / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf	Dominca		·         Used after childbirth to induce lactation.		Infusion / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf	Ghana		·         Used to stop postpartum hemorrhage.		Plant / Oral	Sheep and Goats
Leaf	Guadeloupe		·         Used to facilitate childbirth and speed delivery.		Decoction / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf	Guatemala		·         Used for gonorrhea.		Infusion / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf	Guianas		·         Used for diarrhea, dysentery, and in an abortifacient preparation. ·         Used for hemorrhages and sores.		Decoction / Oral Decoction / External	Human Adult
Leaf	Ivory Coast		·         Used as a hemostatic.		Leaves / External	Human Adult
Leaf	Jamaica		·         Used as a cold remedy.		Decoction / Internal	Human Adult
Leaf	Mali		·         Decoction drunk or used as a lotion during the course of childbirth.		Decoction / Various	Human Adult
Leaf	Nicaragua		·         Used for diarrhea.		Decoction / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf	Nigeria		·         Used for tapeworms, malignant tumors and to aid childbirth.		Decoction / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf	Nigeria		·         Used as a laxative and as a child birth aid (to stop bleeding during late Pregnancy, to stop bleeding, labor pains and stomach pains after childbirth).		Decoction / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf	Nigeria		·         Used as an oxytocic (induces childbirth) and to expel placenta.		Decoction / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf	Nigeria		·         Used as an abortifacient and for diarrhea.		Decoction / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf	Nigeria		·         Used as a febrifuge, astringent, diuretic and laxative; for cholera, thrush, gonorrhea, dizziness, cough, fever, yaws, sore throat, cough, diarrhea, tapeworm , and fever. Use for eye ailments, cuts, sore, wounds, and burns.		Decoction / Oral Infusion / External	Human Adult
Leaf	Nigeria		·         Used for various nervous disorders.		Tincture / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf	Peru		·         Used for postpartum infections of the uterus, yeast infections, bacterial Infections, and as a childbirth aid.		Decoction / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf		Peru	·         Used for heat rash.		Infusion / External	Human Adult
Leaf		Peru	·         Used as an antiseptic wash for wounds.		Infusion / External	Human Adult
Leaf		Peru	·         Used for illnesses of the throat and tonsils.		Infusion / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf		Peru	·         Used for dysentery, diarrhea, vaginal infections, and stomach problems. ·         Used for dermatitis, rashes and skin eruptions.		Decoction / Oral Infusion / External	Human Adult
Leaf		West Indies	·         Used for diarrhea.		Decoction / Oral	Human Adult
Leaf/Stem		Guianas	·         Used as an eyewash.		Decoction / Ocular	Human Adult
Leaf/Flower		Various	·         For stomachache, biliousness, urethritis, cystitis, eye inflammation, and throat inflammation.		Infusion / Oral	Human Adult
Fruit		Brazil	·         Used for angina, stomach ulcers, vaginal and uterine disorders.		Juice / Oral	Human Adult
Fruit		Brazil	·         Eaten as a food. Used on ice creams, liqueurs, jams, etc.		Fruit/Oral	Human Adult
Fruit		Brazil	·         Fruit juice taken for fevers, cystitis, and urethritis.		. Juice / Oral	Human Adult
Fruit		Brazil	·         Fruit or juice taken as a heart tonic.		Fruit / Oral	Human Adult
Fruit		Cameroon	·         Used for chronic diarrhea.		Fruit / Oral	Human Adult
Fruit		Ecuador	·         Eaten as a food.		Fruit / Oral	Human Adult
Fruit		Guianas	·         Fresh fruit eaten as a mild laxative. Stewed and eaten for diarrhea.		Fruit / Oral	Human Adult
Fruit		Nigeria	·         Used as a febrifuge, anti-inflammatory and expectorant.		Fruit / Oral	Human Adult
Fruit		Panama	·         Eaten as a food.		Fruit / Oral	Human Adult
Fruit		Peru	·         Used as a vomitive and an astringent.		Decoction / Oral	Human Adult
Fruit		Peru	·         Used for healing wounds.		Decoction / External	Human Adult
Fruit		Peru	·         Campa-Ashaninca Indians use it as tapir bait when hunting.		Fruit / Oral	Human Adult
Fruit		Peru	·         Eaten in large quantities it is vomitive. ·         Skin of fruit is astringent. ·         Fruit or juice taken for anemia.		Fruit / Oral Fruit skin / External Fruit / Oral	Human Adult
Fruit		Peru	·         Eaten as a food.		Fruit / Oral	Human Adult
Fruit		Peru	·         In large quantities it is an emetic. Eaten for anemia.		Fruit / Oral	Human Adult
Fruit		Peru	·         Fruit juice taken for fevers, cystitis, and urethritis.		Juice / Oral	Human Adult
Flowers		Jamaica	·         Used for colds.		Infusion / Oral	Human Adult
Flowers		Belize	·         Used as an astringent for diarrhea, gonorrhea, and sore throat.		Decoction / Oral	Human Adult
Flowers		Brazil	·         Used as a cardiac tonic for debility, weakness, and heart palpitations.		Infusion / Oral	Human Adult
Flowers		Brazil	·         Used for eye infections. Used heart conditions, laryngitis, children’s diarrhea and as a stomachic.		Infusion / Ocular Infusion / Oral	Human Adult
Flowers		Guianas	·         Used for mouth sores.		Infusion / Oral	Human Adult
Flowers		Peru	·         Used for cataracts.		Infusion / Ocular	Human Adult
Root + Leaf		Guatemala	·         Used for gonorrhea.		Infusion / Oral	Human Adult
Root		Guianas	·         Used for dysentery.		Infusion / Oral	Human Adult
Root		Peru	·         Used to treat tuberculosis, diarrhea, and as a childbirth aid. ·         Used as an adjunctive with antibiotics.		Decoction / Oral	Human Adult
Root		Peru	·         Used for vaginal infections and hemorrhoids.		Decoction / Not stated	Human Adult
Root		Peru	·         Used as a gastric analgesic.		Decoction / Oral	Human Adult
Seed		Brazil	·         Used as a diuretic for urinary and bladder problems.		Infusion / Oral	Human Adult
Seed		Brazil	·         Used for leucorrhea.		Decoction / Oral	Human Adult
Gum		Various	·         Used as an expectorant and to expel tapeworms.		Not stated / Oral	Human Adult
Plant		Haiti	·         Used as a laxative; for coughs, gonorrhea, ophthalmia, sore throat, and urethritis.		Not stated	Human Adult
Plant		Panama	·         Cuna Indians use it for asthma, colds, and congestion.		Not stated	Human Adult
Plant		Trinidad	·         Used as an astringent, and gargle; for colds, diarrhea, erysipelas, nephritis, sores, sore throat, and thrush.		Not stated	Human Adult
Plant		Various	·         Used as an analgesic, astringent, diuretic, laxative, and vermifuge; for asthma, cancer, colds, congestion, cough, diarrhea, erysipelas, fever, gonorrhea, leprosy, malignancy, nephritis, ophthalmia, sore, swelling, thrush, tumors, urethritis, and wounds.		Not stated	Human Adult

 

Health benefits of Hog Plum

Hog plums known as June plums, Yellow Mombin or Monkey Mombin are a juicy fruit of hog plum tree found in tropical countries and comes diverse ranges of colors. There are lots of essential vitamins and nutrients present in hog plums that help fight against some free radicals that might be harmful to human health. Some of the nutritional benefits of these fruits include the following:

1. Enhances Bone Health

Hog plum is a fat-free, sodium-free, cholesterol-free fruit and is considered as a good source of vitamin K that helps in proper bone health.

Vitamin K not only helps in blood clotting, but it also helps to improve the bones by making them strong, thus helping in the prevention of bones health conditions like bone fractures, etc., its effects on osteoporosis has not been proven medically, though most people take it for this cause.

Research also indicates that hog plums consist of copper that maintains the bone and other connective tissues in the body system and is also needed for proper assimilation of vitamin C.

2. Promotes Muscle Strength

Thiamine is one of the vitamins which could be found in hog plum, it has a lot of functions it performs in the body with one of them being its ability to help in muscle contraction and conduction of nerve signals. Its deficiency can lead to numerous symptoms such as muscle weakness which could even lead to confusion in most cases. Sufficient consumption of this fruit can help in eliminating the chances of this condition.

3. Good for Digestive Health

Hog plums consist of good amount of dietary fiber which plays a key role in maintaining a healthy digestive system. The fiber content helps in improving the general functions of the digestive health, and as well prevents any form of issues that could arise as a result of poor digestion and other digestive health conditions like bloating and gas.

4. Improves Hemoglobin Production

Hog plum is a good source mineral such as iron which helps in the production of hemoglobin and myoglobin which helps to transfer oxygen throughout the body systems.

Iron content in the fruits helps in improving the Hemoglobin which is the iron and oxygen-binding proteins located in the blood; it also helps in the improvement of the iron and oxygen-binding proteins also in the muscles which are known as Myoglobin. Iron is a vital micronutrient that is essential to the body and functions great in the preventing of anemia and other blood conditions.

5. Serves as Diuretic and Febrifuge

Consumption of hog plum fruits or its juice is medicinal and may treat several health conditions. It helps the body to successfully and adequately remove fluids (water) from the body through urine, which is to mention that it helps in reducing the quantity of salt (sodium) within the body thus decreasing the danger of high vital sign.

It also acts as a febrifuge, within the sense which will functions as a substitute for fever medications, because it can help within the reduction and treatment of fever/malaria which has been used locally in many tropical areas thanks to its properties like flavonoids, anthraquinones, sesquiterpenes, quinoline and more.

6. Role in weight control

Hog plum consists of a lot of fiber or dietary fiber. Each 100 grams of hog plum consists of 29 calories. So hog plum helps in weight loss. Hog plum helps prevent indigestion and constipation.

7. Treat anemia

To eliminate anemia, you need to eat hog plum. Pomegranates are rich in iron which helps in keeping the hemoglobin level at the right level. As a result, it plays an effective role in preventing anemia.

8. Keep skin healthy

Hog plum fruit helps in maintaining good health of skin, hair and nails. To reduce skin acne, hog plum is very useful to keep the skin bright. Hog plum consists of a lot of vitamin C which is very essential to keep the skin bright. So hog plum can be eaten regularly to keep the skin healthy and radiant.

9. Protects Against Heart Disease

Researchers found that hog plums were naturally high in antioxidants, which they compared to the heart medication. Research found that hog plums helps to reduce overall cholesterol levels and that their antioxidant effect on heart health. The conclusion was that hog plums may be beneficial for overall heart health, but longer term research is needed.

10. Treat Dysentery

Leaves and bark of this tree consists of several flavanoida, saponins and tannins. The content is very useful to cure dysentery and cough cure. To make herbal potions to cure dysentery we simply take kedondong bark about 5 gm., select the skin fresh and clean. After it was sliced in the form of small pieces and boiled with 2 cups water until the remaining half. Then set aside to be warmer, then strain and drink the water. It is considered one of the best cures for dysentery.

11. Common Diseases

Leaves of hog plums are used to making antiseptic soap, and it helps to treat a sore throat, cough, malaria, and other common diseases. The leaves of hog plums are traditional herbal product, and it’s used for alternative medicines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-F6jaarhaA

Traditional uses and benefits of Hog Plums

• It is used in traditional medicine against lower back pain, rheumatism, digestive track problems, angina, sore throat, malarial fever, diarrhea, urethritis, gonorrhea, stomach pain, colds, dysentery, laryngitis, ophthalmia, and many others.
• Bark is used in a remedy for gonorrhea, diarrhea, coughs and colds, hemorrhages, stomach-aches and to alleviate fatigue.
• Plant extracts exhibit antibacterial properties, and a decoction of the bark or root bark is considered antiseptic.
• An infusion is used to treat dysentery.
• Leaf decoctions are used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, colds, fevers and gonorrhea.
• Decoction of the leaves and young stems is used as eyewash in ophthalmia.
• Decoction is used in the treatment of laryngitis, ophthalmia and children’s diarrhea.
• It is stewed and eaten to cure diarrhea.
• In South American herbal medicine systems as well as in other parts of the world ubos leaves are widely used for female reproductive tracts issues.
• It is a common midwife’s remedy to help induce labor, reduce bleeding and pain during and after childbirth, to bring on the flow of breast milk, and as a vaginal wash to prevent or treat uterine or vaginal infections after childbirth.
• Leaves are also a common remedy for various digestive problems including stomachaches, diarrhea, dyspepsia, gastralgia, colic, and constipation.
• Leaves are considered to be antiviral, antibacterial, anti-candidal, and antiseptic and used in numerous microbial problems including colds and flu, cystitis, urethritis, sore throats, herpes, yeast infections, gonorrhea, eye and ear infections, and used externally for infected wounds, cuts, burns, and rashes.
• Leaves are also considered to be an excellent vermifuge and anthelmintic and often used for intestinal worms and parasites in humans as well as their livestock.
• Bark is widely used as a contraceptive and abortive, as well as for ovarian and uterine cancer.
• It is considered analgesic and antispasmodic and used for arthritis, rheumatism, muscle and joint pain, injuries and inflammation.
• Bark consists of a great deal of astringent tannins and is usually prepared in decoctions for diarrhea and dysentery, blenorrhagia, hemorrhoids, and for internal and external wounds and bleeding.
• Bark is also used for tonsillitis, laryngitis, malaria, fever, erysipelas, bladder and kidney stones, snakebite, and intestinal ulcers.
• Bark is also considered to be a good topical antiseptic and healing remedy for all types of wounds, rashes, psoriasis, dermatitis, leishmaniasis, leprosy, and other skin problems.
• Flowers are typically prepared in an infusion and used for eye infections and cataracts, as a soothing tea for sore throat, laryngitis and mouth sores, as well as a heart tonic.
• Root is used as an antimicrobial for tuberculosis, diarrhea and vaginal infections.
• Leaves serve as antiseptics as they are also used in making antiseptic soaps, treating sore throat, cough, malaria and another related sickness.
• Barks, the juice, and the fruit have therapeutic benefits that make them useful to traditional herbalists for alternative medicines.
• It has been used in many parts of Africa for alleviating many health conditions like pain, cough, indigestion, fever, inflammation, convulsions and lots more.
• Fruit decoction is used to bathe wounds and heal sores in the mouth.
• Syrup prepared from the fruit is taken to overcome chronic diarrhea.
• The astringent bark decoction is a remedy for mange, ulcers, dysentery and for bloating caused by intestinal gas in infants.
• Sap of the bark is used to treat stomatitis in infants in Philippines.
• The juice of the fresh leaves is a remedy for thrush.
• An infusion of shredded leaves is valued for washing cuts, sores and burns in Southwestern Nigeria.
• Gum-resin of the tree is mixed with pineapple or soursop juice for treating jaundice.
• Tea made from the flowers and leaves is taken to relieve stomach ache, biliousness, and urethritis, cystitis and eye and throat inflammations.
• Decoction of the young leaves is a remedy for diarrhea and dysentery in Belize.
• Juice of crushed leaves and the powder of dried leaves are used as poultices on wounds and inflammations.
• The gum is used as an expectorant and to expel tapeworms.

Culinary Uses

• The pulp can be eaten fresh or made into desserts or juice.
• Seeds are also edible.
• Fruit can be consumed raw or cooked.
• It is also used for making jams, ice cream etc.
• Unripe fruits are pickled and used like olives.
• Young leaves can be cooked and used as a vegetable.
• The shoot tastes like cassava and can be eaten raw or boiled.
• When fresh water is unavailable, water from the roots of this tree can be drunk.
• Sap from the roots has been drunk in place of water when the latter was not available.
• Fruit pulp is either eaten fresh or made into juice, concentrate, jellies, and sherbets.
• In Thailand this fruit is called makok and is used in som tam as a secondary ingredient.

Other Facts

• Wood is used for posts, boxes, matches, general carpentry, tool handles, etc.
• The tree is occasionally planted to provide shade for coffee plants.
• Ashes from the roots have been used in making soap.
• The heartwood is cream to buff in color; it is not demarcated from the sapwood.
• Trunks are occasionally used for dugouts and the stems for posts, boxes, matches, general carpentry, tool handles, millwork, utility plywood, and furniture components.
• Logs need to be promptly processed to minimize deterioration from insect attack.
• The wood is suitable for fuel.
• It is commonly used for living fence posts, in farmlands and shelter by artisans.

References:

https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=28816#null

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/spondias_mombin.htm

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Spondias+mombin

https://rain-tree.com/ubos.htm

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SPMO

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2480696

https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/SPXMO

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

https://gringlobal.irri.org/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=35334

https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/51047

79%

79%

Awesome

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