Spanish Cherry, Bakul

Mimusops elengi

Physical Characteristics

Mimusops elengi is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 16 m (52ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Wind. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Distribution

E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, northern Australia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Oil Edible Uses: Oil The fruit can be eaten raw, preserved or pickled[301 ]. Yellow when ripe, they have a sweet flavour[301 ]. The pulp is starchy with a floury texture[200 , 299 ]. The fruit is insipid and/or astringent[299 , 307 ]. They are said to taste like dates but to be more dry[299 ]. The ovoid to oblong fruit is up to 35mm long and 16mm wide[200 ]. An oil is obtained from the seed[301 ]. Used for cooking[307 ]. The seed kernel contains about 22% oil. The fatty acid composition of the refined oil is: oleic acid 64%, linoleic acid 14.5%, palmitic acid 11%, stearic acid 10% and behenic acid 0.5%. The nutritional quality of the refined oil is considered to be comparable with that of groundnut oil[299 ].

Medicinal Uses

Antidiarrhoeal Astringent Bitter Dysentery Eczema Febrifuge Laxative Mouthwash Odontalgic Ophthalmic Skin Stings Tonic The bark is astringent, bitter and tonic. It is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery[287 , 307 ]. A decoction of the bark, sometimes mixed with the flowers, is used as a gargle to treat gum inflammation, toothache etc[287 ]. It is also used to treat gonorrhoea, snakebites, fevers, wounds, scabies and eczema[299 , 307 ]. It is often combined with tamarind bark (Tamarindus indica) then used as a lotion on skin complaints[299 ]. The leaves are used to treat headache, toothache, wounds and sore eyes, and are smoked to cure infections of the nose and mouth[299 ]. The flowers have been used as a remedy against diarrhoea[299 ]. The young fruits have been employed in a gargle for treating sprue[299 ]. The pounded seeds are used to cure obstinate constipation[299 ]. Several triterpenes have been isolated from the plant, as well as steroidal glycosides[299 ]. The major chemical compounds in the flowers are aromatic alcohols and esters[299 ]. The ethyl-acetate-soluble fraction of an alcoholic extract of the bark showed anti-ulcer activity against experimental gastric ulcers; this activity was attributed to a decrease in gastric acid secretory activity along with strengthening of mucosal defensive mechanisms[299 ]. A methanolic extract caused hypotensive activity; it may possess calcium-blocking activity[299 ].

Known Hazards

The sawdust is irritating to nose and throat[299 ].