Health Benefits
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Monday, December 11
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest
    Health Benefits
    • Home
    • Nutrition
    • Vegetables
    • Herbs & Spices
    • Healthy Recipe
    • Fruits
    • Essential OIls
    • Contact us
    Health Benefits
    Home»Herbs and Spices»Facts about Mahaleb Cherry
    Herbs and Spices

    Facts about Mahaleb Cherry

    By SylviaMay 1, 2019Updated:June 27, 2019No Comments6 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    Health-benefits-of-Mahaleb-cherry

    Mahaleb cherry Quick Facts
    Name: Mahaleb cherry
    Scientific Name: Prunus mahaleb
    Origin Central and Southern Europe, extending to Spain, and through Gibraltar to the tip of Northwest Africa
    Colors Green when young turning to red, dark purple and finally black
    Shapes Small thin-fleshed cherry-like drupe 8–10 mm in diameter, dark red, more or less bitter but pleasantly tasty.
    Taste Sweet, Bitter
    Health benefits Beneficial for Type 2 diabetes, Heart disease, kidney and abdominal pain, cancer, shortness of breath and malaria.
    Mahaleb cherry scientifically known as Prunus mahaleb L. is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the Rosaceae (Rose family). The plant is native to Central and Southern Europe, extending to Spain, and through Gibraltar to the tip of Northwest Africa, from the Balkans eastwards to Ukraine, Western and Central Asia. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Mahaleb cherry, Perfumed cherry, St. Lucie cherry, Cerezo de Santa Luca, Gandhi cherry, rock cherry, Saint lucie cherry, St Lucie’s cherry and English Cherry. Mahaleb cherry (Mahlep Tree) has been used for centuries for its fruits and its almond-tasting seeds inside the stone, especially in East Europe and the Middle East. More recently this plant has been used in horticulture as a frost-resistant rootstock for cherry plants.

    Plant Description

    Mahaleb cherry is a deciduous shrub or small tree that grows about 2–10 m (rarely up to 12 m) tall with a trunk up to 40 cm diameter. The plant is found growing in dry hillsides, thickets and open woods, at the margins of temperate oak forests, in bluffs, riverbanks, roadsides, stream banks, limestone bluffs and quarries, fence rows and chaparral. The plant thrives in a well-drained moisture-retentive loamy soil, growing best in a poor soil. It prefers some lime in the soil but is likely to become chlorotic if too much lime is present. The plant is deep-rooted, with a fibrous root system. The young twigs are glandular with yellowish-grey hairs, becoming later brownish and hairless. Bark is grey-brown in color with conspicuous lenticels on young stems, and shallowly fissured on old trunks. Stems lack thorns.

    Leaves

    Leaves are 1.5–5 cm long, 1–4 cm. wide, alternate, clustered at the end of alternately arranged twigs, ovate to cordate, pointed, have serrate edges, longitudinal venation and are glabrous and green. The petiole is 5–20 mm, and may or may not have two glands.

    Flowers

    Flowers are 1-1.5 cm wide, fragrant, white, on about 1 cm long pedicels, arranged in upright corymb-like raceme inflorescences of 3-12 flowers, at the tips of short, lateral, leafy shoots. The flower pollination is mainly by bees. Flowers appear in an inflorescence that typically has fewer than 10 flowers in a raceme. Flowering normally takes place from April to May. The flower is usually pollinated by bees.

    Fruits

    Fertile flowers are small thin-fleshed cherry-like drupe 8-10 mm in diameter, green at first turning red then dark purple to black when mature, with a very bitter flavor; flowering occurs mid spring with the fruit ripening in mid to late summer.

    Mahaleb cherry Image Gallery
    Bark-of-Mahaleb-cherry Bark-of-Mahaleb-cherry
    Closer-view-of-flowers-of-Mahaleb-cherry Closer-view-of-flowers-of-Mahaleb-cherry
    Closer-view-of-leaf-of-Mahaleb-cherry Closer-view-of-leaf-of-Mahaleb-cherry
    Flowers-of-Mahaleb-cherry Flowers-of-Mahaleb-cherry
    Leaves-of-Mahaleb-cherry Leaves-of-Mahaleb-cherry
    Mahaleb-cherry Mahaleb-cherry
    Mahaleb-cherry-plant Mahaleb-cherry-plant
    Mahaleb-cherry-plant-growing-wild Mahaleb-cherry-plant-growing-wild
    Maturing-Mahaleb-cherries Maturing-Mahaleb-cherries
    Plant-Illustration-of-Mahaleb-cherry Plant-Illustration-of-Mahaleb-cherry
    Seed-powder-of-Mahaleb-cherry Seed-powder-of-Mahaleb-cherry
    Seeds-of-Mahaleb-cherry Seeds-of-Mahaleb-cherry
    Sketch-of-Mahaleb-cherry Sketch-of-Mahaleb-cherry
    Trunk-of-Mahaleb-cherry Trunk-of-Mahaleb-cherry
    Unripe-fruit-of-Mahaleb-cherry Unripe-fruit-of-Mahaleb-cherry

    Health benefits of Mahaleb cherry

    Listed below are few of the benefits of Mahaleb cherry

    1. Type 2 diabetes

    Oleic acid in mahlab can reduce blood pressure and increase fat-burning to aid weight loss, which can help to prevent diabetes. Research has shown that oleic acid has the ability to reduce symptoms of type 2 diabetes in mice.

    2. Heart disease

    Linoleic acid is supposed to be favorable for the treatment of multiple health conditions including heart disease.

    Traditional uses and benefits of Mahaleb cherry

    • It is useful against shortness of breath and malaria.
    • It is pain cutter.
    • It gives strength to the body and increases sexual desire.
    • It is good for diabetics and those with prostate complaints.
    • It is good for kidney and abdominal pain.
    • It is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer.
    • In small amounts this exceedingly poisonous compound stimulates respiration, improves digestion and gives a sense of well-being.

    Culinary Uses

    • The fruit might be edible, if the fruit is bitter it should not be eaten in any quantity due to the presence of toxic compounds.
    • Seed can be consumed raw or cooked.
    • Dried seed kernels are used as a flavoring in breads, sweet pastries, confectionery etc.
    • Spices prepared from seeds were used for centuries in the Middle East and North Africa to flavor bread, cakes, cheese, cookies, etc.
    • Mahleb is used in small quantities to sharpen bakery and food items.
    • Egyptians mix honey with mahleb paste and add other items such as sesame seeds and nuts and consume it as a dessert or snack with bread.
    • It is added as an important ingredient in bakery products such as breads, biscuits, sweet cakes and pastries.
    • This regal spice adds majesty to many sweets and bakery items.
    • Mahleb can be treated like nutmeg.
    • You can sprinkle it on sautéed vegetables or creamy soups, especially dishes with carrots or pumpkin.

    Recipe

    Tsoureki – Greek Easter Loaf

    Tsoureki - Greek Easter Loaf

    Ingredients

    • 1 kg flour
    • 1 cup lukewarm milk
    • 2 bags instant dry yeast
    • 5 cup sugar, cherry mahaleb, grated lemon rind
    • 1 cup shortening
    • 6 eggs

    Directions

    1. Knead and let dough rises twice.
    2. Divide into three portions and each portion into another three. Roll out each portion into strip.  Braid 3 strips together loosely.
    3. Cover the tsoureki till they are double in size.
    4. Beat lightly 1 egg with 1-2 tbsp. sugar and glaze the tsourekia.
    5. Bake for 20 minutes or till golden brown.

    Other Facts

    • Green dye can be obtained from the leaves.
    • Dark grey to green dye can be obtained from the fruit.
    • Can be used as a root stock for the cultivated cherries.
    • Wood is hard, very heavy, polishes well.
    • Wood is used for turnery, ornamental items etc.
    • Wood is hard, heavy, with a pleasant odor, used for carving small objects; e.g. tobacco, pipes, canes, cigarette holders.
    • Plant has the potential for use as a gene donor for crop improvement.
    • Leaves are used for perfumes.
    • Distillation of the leaves and fruit yields a fragrant liquid, used in perfumery.
    • Seeds are used in the production of almond soap.
    • Young branches are used in the construction of various objects such as cabinets, wine barrels and baskets.
    • At one time, the aromatic wood was a favorite for making tobacco pipes.
    • Due to its extensive root system the mahaleb cherry can prevent erosion and is suitable for wasteland reclamation and afforestation.

    Precautions

    • Toxin is found mainly in the leaves and seed and is readily noticed by its bitter taste.
    • It is usually present in too small a quantity to do any harm but any very bitter seed or fruit should not be eaten.
    • In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer.
    • In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death.
    • Do not eat the seed if it is too bitter.

    References:

    https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=24789#null

    https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/85891/

    https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=30034

    http://www.floracatalana.net/prunus-mahaleb-l

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

    http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/rjp-57

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

    77%
    77%
    Awesome

    Comments

    comments

    Herbs and Spices M
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleAmaranth greens nutrition and health benefits
    Next Article Reasons Why You Should Start Using Peptides for Good Health

    Related Posts

    Health benefits of Hairy Senna

    December 8, 2023

    Health benefits of Tumbleweed

    December 3, 2023

    Health benefits of Himalayan Blue Poppy

    November 29, 2023

    Comments are closed.

    Mahaleb Cherry facts

    Name Mahaleb cherry
    Scientific Name Prunus mahaleb
    Native Central and Southern Europe, extending to Spain, and through Gibraltar to the tip of Northwest Africa, from the Balkans eastwards to Ukraine, Western and Central Asia
    Common Names Mahaleb cherry, Perfumed cherry, St. Lucie cherry, Cerezo de Santa Luca, Gandhi cherry, rock cherry, Saint lucie cherry, St Lucie’s cherry, English Cherry
    Name in Other Languages Albanian: Kumbull
    Arabic: Mahhlab (محلب), Shagar adrîs
    Armenian: Mahlab, Mahlap (Մահլապ)
    Bulgarian: Diva cheresha (дива череша), divakinya (дивакиня)
    Catalan: Cirer bord, Cirer de guilla, Cirerer de guineu, Cirerer de santa llúcia, Macaleu, Prunera borda
    Chinese:  Ma ha li ying tao,  Yuan ye ying tao (圆叶樱桃), yuán
    Croatian: Rašeljka           
    Czech: Mahalebka obecná
    Danish: Weichsel, Weichseltrae
    Dutch: Weichselboom
    English: Mahaleb cherry, Perfumed cherry, St. Lucie cherry, Cerezo de Santa Luca, Gandhi cherry, rock cherry, Saint lucie cherry, St Lucie’s cherry, English Cherry
    Estonian: Lõhnav kirsipuu
    Finnish: Veikselinkirsikka
    French: Cerisier de Mahaleb, Cerisier Mahaleb, Cerisier de Sainte-Lucie, amarel, bois-de-Sainte-Lucie, amarel, mahaleb, canon, canonier, cerisier odorant, faux merisier, prunier de Sainte Lucie, prunier mahaleb, quénot         
    German: Felskirsche, Felsenkirsche, Gemeine Steinweichsel, Mahalebkirsche, Tuerkische Weichsel, Weichselbaum, Weichselkirsche, Lucienholz, Steinweichsel, badener Weichsel, Felsenkirschbaum, Steinweichselbaum, Weichsel, Weichselkirschbaum, Weichselrohr
    Greek: Agriokerasiá (Αγριοκερασιά), Machalépi (Μαχαλέπι), Machlép (Μαχλέπι), Machalepi, Machlepi
    Hungarian: Sajmeggy
    Italian: Ciliegio di Santa Lucia, Ciliegio canino, Ciliegio mahaleb, Ciliegio odoroso, Pruno odoroso, Ciliegio di Santa Lucia, Legno di Santa Lucia, megaleppo, ciliegio canino
    Norwegian: Mahaleb
    Occitan: Amarèu
    Persian: Habbu’l ma’lan
    Polish: Antypka, Wishnia wonna
    Portuguese: Cerejeira de Santa Lúcia
    Russian:  Cheremukha magalenka           
    Slovak: Cerešňa mahalebková
    Slovenian: Rasheljika, Resheljika
    Spanish: Arbol de Santa Lucía, Cerecino, Cerezo de Mahoma, Cerezo de puerto, Cerezo de Santa Lucía, maleino, palo durillo
    Swedish: Vejkselträd, vejksel
    Turkish: Mahlep              
    Ukrainian: Vishnya magalebs’ka (вишня магалебська)
    Plant Growth Habit Deciduous shrub or small tree
    Growing Climates Dry hillsides, thickets and open woods, at the margins of temperate oak forests, in bluffs, riverbanks, Roadsides, stream banks, limestone bluffs and quarries, fencerows, chaparral
    Soil Thrives in a well-drained moisture-retentive loamy soil, growing best in a poor soil. Prefers some lime in the soil but is likely to become chlorotic if too much lime is present
    Plant Size 2–10 m (rarely up to 12 m) tall with a trunk up to 40 cm diameter
    Root Deep-rooted, with a fibrous root system
    Bark Grey-brown, with conspicuous lenticels on young stems, and shallowly fissured on old trunks
    Twigs The young twigs are glandular with yellowish-grey hairs, becoming later brownish and hairless
    Leaf 1.5–5 cm long, 1–4 cm. wide, alternate, clustered at the end of alternately arranged twigs, ovate to cordate, pointed, have serrate edges, longitudinal venation and are glabrous and green. The petiole is 5–20 mm, and may or may not have two glands
    Flowering season April to May
    Flower 1-1.5cm wide, fragrant, white, on about 1cm long pedicels, arranged in upright corymb-like raceme inflorescences of 3-12 flowers, at the tips of short, lateral, leafy shoots. The flower pollination is mainly by bees
    Pollination By bees and flies
    Fruit Shape & Size Small thin-fleshed cherry-like drupe 8–10 mm in diameter, dark red, more or less bitter but pleasantly tasty. The woody stone containing the seed is smooth
    Fruit Color Green when young turning to red, dark purple and finally black
    Taste Sweet, Bitter
    Plant Parts Used Fruits, seeds
    Season June-September

    Mahaleb cherry Scientific Classification

    Scientific Name: Prunus mahaleb

    Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
    Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
    Subkingdom Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
    Infrakingdom Streptophyta  (land plants)
    Superdivision Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
    Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
    Subdivision Spermatophytina  (spermatophytes, seed plants, phanérogames)
    Class Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
    Subclass Rosidae
    Superorder Rosanae
    Order Rosales
    Family Rosaceae (Rose family)
    Genus Prunus L. (plum)
    Species Prunus mahaleb L. (Mahaleb cherry)
    Synonyms
    • Cerasus corymbosa St.-Lag.
    • Cerasus mahaleb (L.) Miller
    • Cerasus mahaleb subsp. simonkaii (Pénzes) Terpó
    • Cerasus mahaleb var. alpina Browicz
    • Druparia mahaleb (L.)
    • Padellus mahaleb (L.) Vasil’chenko
    • Padellus mahaleb (L.) Vassilcz.
    • Padellus mahaleb subsp. cupaniana (Gussone) J.Soják
    • Padellus mahaleb subsp. simonkaii (Pénzes) J.Soják
    • Padus mahaleb (L.) Borkh.
    • Prunus cupaniana Guss. ex Nym.
    • Prunus mahaleb subsp. cupaniana (Guss. ex Nyman) Raimondo & Spadaro
    • Prunus mahaleb subsp. simonkaii Pénzes
    • Prunus odorata Lam.
    Categories
    • Beverages (70)
    • Dairy (28)
    • Equipment (5)
    • Essential OIls (189)
    • Facts (2,302)
    • Foods (228)
    • Fruits (412)
    • Grains and Cereals (30)
    • Health & Beauty (471)
    • Herbs and Spices (1,098)
    • Medicines (7)
    • Nutritional value (27)
    • Nuts and seeds (59)
    • Oils (80)
    • Pets (1)
    • Poultry & Seafoods (67)
    • Pulses and Beans (16)
    • Reviews (23)
    • supplement (2)
    • Vegetables (211)

    What foods lower cholesterol?

    Health benefits of Gabon Plum

    Health benefits of Hairy Senna

    Health benefits of Henry’s Chestnut

    Health benefits of African apricot

    Health benefits of Tumbleweed

    ABOUT
    Home
    About us
    Contact us
    Privacy Policy
    Terms & conditions
    Disclaimer
    Direct Communication
    e-mail: [email protected]
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest
    © 2023 www.healthbenefitstimes.com All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.