Cockatoo Plum - 11 Useful Properties, Composition, Where Does It Grow?

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 02:10

Cockatoo plum: how is it useful and how is it eaten?

The Australian cockatoo plum (Latin Terminalia ferdinandiana) is a distant relative of our familiar home plum. It grows only in the northwestern forests of Australia. In some sources there are alternative definitions of the cockatoo plum - gurumal, murunga, billigout.

The tree can grow up to 30 meters in height. Greens are light green in color. The flowering period is in December, which corresponds to the spring season in the Southern Hemisphere. Fruits are small, no more than 2 cm long and 1 cm wide. Oval berries of yellowish-green color are distinguished by pronounced juiciness and a pleasant sour taste. Ripening occurs by March - in Australia at this time autumn comes. Each fruit contains one small bone.

Mooringa has found application in the production of medicines for official medicine. The healing properties of murunga are used by traditional healers. The expressed beneficial qualities of plums are widely used in cosmetology.

Content:

• Cockatoo plum composition
• 11 health benefits of cockatoo plum
• Side effects and contraindications
• How is it used?
• Cooking recipes with cockatoo plum
• Interesting facts about the Australian plum

Cockatoo plum composition

The cockatoo plum is not fully understood. Scientists have recently paid attention to the fruits of this unique plant. The composition has now been established.

• Fats: 0.5 g
• Proteins: 0.8 g
• Carbohydrates: 17.2 g
• Water: 79.0 g
• Ash: 1.4 g

Minerals (in 100 g):	amount	% RDA
Copper	0.9 mg	100%
Iron	2.4 mg	24%
Magnesium	40 mg	ten%
Zinc	0.7 mg	6.3%
Calcium	62 mg	6%
Potassium	261 mg	5.5%
Sodium	13 mg	1%
Vitamins (per 100 g):
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)	2907 to 5320 mg	5911%
Vitamin B1 (thiamin)	0.05 mg	4%
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)	0.04 mg	3%
Vitamin B3 (PP, nicotinic acid)	0.1 mg	0.6%

Cockatoo plum contains 50-100 times more vitamin C than orange.

Knowing nothing about the composition of the fruit of the cockatoo plum, Australian residents have actively used it for medicinal purposes since ancient times. Murunga can be eaten raw or processed.

The cockatoo plum is especially valuable for those who want to maintain optimal weight. The restoration of normal digestion is facilitated by plant fiber, antioxidants help to break down adipose tissue. Minerals and nutrients help maintain vitality.

11 health benefits of cockatoo plum

The main value of the product lies in its pronounced immunomodulatory effect. A high concentration of trace elements, vitamins has a positive effect on all organs and systems of the body.

The fruits of the cockatoo plum have a pronounced preventive and curative disease in a number of pathological conditions:

1. The pulp of the fruit, applied to the skin, exhibits antimicrobial effect, suppresses inflammatory symptoms.
2. Ellagic acid is a powerful anticarcinogenic compound that has a beneficial effect on the intestinal microflora.
3. Gallic acid, which is found in large quantities in the fruits of the cockatoo plum, has prophylactic anticancer and antimutagenic properties.
4. The pulp of the fruit has an antiviral effect against colds.
5. Expressed antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial and disinfectant effect.
6. Useful components help to cope with mental stress.
7. The wound healing effect is provided by active substances synthesized from the inner bark of the murunga. Ointments, which include cockatoo plum, are effective in the treatment of purulent wounds, fungal skin lesions, dermatitis.
8. Antioxidants of murunga berries have a positive effect on vital activity and cell renewal, which allows to slow down the aging process.
9. Positive antipsoriatic effect.

10. The active ingredients of the cockatoo plum actively resist the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease by surpassing curcumin.
11. The anesthetic effect of Murunga has been proven in relieving headaches.

Side effects and contraindications

The beneficial properties of murunga do not exclude the occurrence of side effects after its use. Fruits not thermally processed should not be taken by patients with chronic or acute gastritis, inflammation of the gallbladder, ulcerative lesions of the digestive system. Fresh cockatoo plum aggravates diseases caused by high acid content in biological fluids.

Uncontrolled consumption of murunga fruit can cause allergic reactions. A high concentration of ascorbic acid affects blood clotting. Plum cockatoo should be used with caution by people with established thrombophlebitis.

We must not forget about the intolerance of the active substances that make up the pulp of the fruit. Due to the development of unpredictable consequences, they should not be consumed by young children, women during breastfeeding.

The insufficiently studied qualities of the cockatoo plum underlie the restrictions on the use of its fruits, since the reaction to the active components of the pulp can be unpredictable. Certain restrictions must be observed so as not to harm your own body.

How is it used?

Australians, accustomed to the specific taste of the cockatoo plum, eat it raw along with the skin, removing the pits. Soft drinks, compotes are prepared from the fruits. One of the most popular recipes is to remove the pit from the murungi fruit, grind the pulp with sugar and pour in soda water. The sweet and sour drink fully quenches thirst, saturates the body with vitamins and minerals.

Chefs use the cockatoo plum in jellies, jams, juices, dessert dishes, various side dishes and salads. Murungi extract is an exquisite condiment added to exotic sauces.

Cooking recipes with cockatoo plum

Before preparing any dish, the plum is cut and pitted. The peel, in which all vitamins and useful components are concentrated, is left.

Dishes with Australian plums:

1. Mousse. Separate the whites of 4 eggs and beat with 250 grams of sugar until firm peaks. Gradually, 100 ml of whipped cream is introduced into the protein foam. About 300 grams of plum fruits are washed and pitted. The pulp together with the skin is rubbed into mashed potatoes. Agar-agar, about 6 grams, is poured with a small amount of cold water, kept for 10 minutes. The resulting puree is put on low heat and agar-agar is introduced into it, stirring. After the agar-agar is completely dissolved, the dishes are removed from the stove. The cooled puree is combined with a protein-creamy mass. The mousse is laid out in transparent glasses, cooled in the refrigerator for several hours. Serve cold for dessert.
2. Ice cream. A grated mass is prepared from two small bananas. Approximately 200 grams of Australian plums are washed, seeds are selected and ground into a puree with a blender, which is then ground through a sieve to remove skin particles. The two types of fruit puree are combined. Prepare sugar syrup - 100 grams of sugar per 70 ml of water, cool. The syrup is combined with the fruit mass. A little vanilla extract and about 200 ml of coconut milk are added. All components are mixed, laid out in dessert vases and cooled in the freezer, stirring occasionally. Served in ice cream makers, decorated with chocolate chips, nuts, mint leaves.
3. Rejuvenating cocktail. The Australians prefer to drink the healing drink in the morning, before meals. One banana, a teaspoon of honey, 200 grams of plum puree, two tablespoons of oatmeal and one cup of protein or vanilla broth are mixed the night before in a blender or shaker. All ingredients are laid out in layers, 250 ml of almond milk are poured. The composition does not mix! The bowl is placed in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, the composition is whipped with a blender or mixed in a shaker and drunk on an empty stomach.

Interesting facts about the Australian plum

The cockatoo plum is popular in cosmetology. Fruit extract has a beneficial effect on the skin - saturates with useful substances, rejuvenates. Creams, masks, serums with Australian plum extract provide elasticity and healthy skin tone, renewal of elastic fibers.

The high content of vitamin C helps to eliminate age spots, smooth out scar formations. Ascorbic acid protects against UV damage. Vitamins activate the deep layers of the skin, promote collagen synthesis. In addition, vitamin C helps to fully absorb iron.

The beneficial effect of murunga extract on hair has been proven. It is added to shampoos, masks that moisturize hair along its entire length, making it firmer, shinier and healthier.

The pulp of the Australian plum is used in cabinet cosmetology. It is mixed with clay and applied to the skin for 10 minutes. After removing the mass, the skin is cleared of small rashes. It is recommended to apply this mask 2-3 times a week. The skin is cleansed, healthy and radiant.

In its natural environment, the cockatoo plum grows in the humid forests of northern Australia. People have learned to grow it in the limited areas of specialized gardens. Reproduction is carried out by seed. The seedlings are grown, harvested and marketed. Gardening provides jobs, brings good income, and replenishes the state treasury.

The fruits of the Australian plum are extremely valuable in medicine, cosmetology, and cooking. The fresh plum can only be tasted by Australians and tourists. Only dried fruits, extract or cosmetics are exported.

The author of the article: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna | Endocrinologist, nutritionist

Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University named after NI Pirogov with a degree in General Medicine (2004). Residency at Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).