Black Plum, commonly known in Urdu as Jamun. This fruit has incestral background in the subcontinent (Pakistan, India and Bangldesh) as well as countries of Southeast Asia and Eastern Africa. The black colored and oval shaped fruit has a different taste and useful in many health problems. 

Black plum has sweet and sour taste and acidic and astringent in nature

Black plum has sweet and sour taste and acidic and astringent in nature. Due to acidic nature it is usually sprinkled with salt before eating. It was introduced in United States in 1999 from Florida. It founds hardly in tropical regions of subcontinent. This big evergreen tree is planted widely in Cauvery delta in Tamil Nadu and Gangetic plains in India. It is also present in Philippines, Thailand and West Indies.

Fruit ripens on the tree and should be picked daily. It belongs to the family Myrtaceae and have different names according to the language of specific region.

Botanically is known as Syzygium cumini and it is produced on an evergreen plant which goes up to 20 feet height.  Tree is revered by Buddhists; in Indian mythology, Lord Rama subsisted on fruit during his 14-exile in the forest.  This tree lives for over 100 years.

Taste

These are berries which are oval and oblong shaped. Fruit is reddish to black in color with bluish or white flesh. The flesh is very juicy and has sweet and sour flavor with slightly astringent aftertaste. The fruit contains has a big seed and little eatable flesh which is discarded. When the fruit eaten it leaves a purple colored stain on tongue and teeth’s which lasts for several hours.

Nutritional value

In Sub-Continent of Pakistan and India, this fruit is used as treatment in Ayurvedic medicine for a variety of ailments. Presence of anthocyanins in the skin of fruit gives it dark color. This phytonutrient also provides antioxidants. Among others also contains potassium, zinc, iron, folic acid and vitamin A and C. In Ayurvedic medicine, fruit and other parts of tree are used for treatment of anemia, respiratory infections, digestive issues and also to regulate the heartbeat. Different nutrients present in 100 grams of are given below in the table with their amount.

Nutritional content of black plum

NameAmountNameAmount
Carbohydrates14 gmMagnesium35 mg
Protein0.995 gmPhosphorous15 mg
Fat0.23 gmSodium26.2 mg
Fiber0.6 gmVitamin C18 mg
Water84.75 gmRiboflavin0.009 mg
Calcium15 mgThiamine0.019 mg
Iron1.41 mgNiacin0.245 mg
Vitamin B60.038 mgCarotene48 ug
Folic acid3 mg  

Common uses of Black plum juice

This fruit is very useful and beneficial according to health and medicinal point of view. Since it is a seasonal fruit, it is recommended that one should try to consume more and more of this fruit and its juice during the month of June and July. Some amazing and surprising benefits of this fruit for human health are given below:

  • Use of juice is very helpful to treat digestive disorders such as diarrhea, dysentery and dyspepsia.
  • To overcome the problem of female sterility juice should be used.
  • Teeth’s problems can be avoided by drinking or applying the juice.
  • It enhances the immune system.
  • It is beneficial for treatment of piles and hemorrhoids.
  • Cough and asthma can be controlled by drinking its fresh juice.
  • It acts as an anti-aging agent.
  • In urine retention and spleen enlargement juice of the fruit is given to the patient.
  • Its juice along with curd is very beneficial against digestive diseases.
  • In case of diarrhea, juice is useful after mixing a little amount of salt in it.

Medical Uses

Nature has everything that is inevitable and dispensable for the human beings and has put all the benefits for the human beings in every fruit. Similarly, black plum has very vital importance regarding the medical uses, specially it is beneficial for the diabetic ailments. Now a days in the developing countries specially in Pakistan, India  and Bangladesh the digestive disorders occurs because of increased heat in the stomach that ultimately increase the SGPT (Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, an enzyme which is commonly present in liver and heart cells) which causes the liver problems mostly known as the Hepatitis. Black Plum plays an important role to reduce the stomach heat, because of its coolant properties.

Black Plum is also good for skin diseases, it has natural stringent properties that help to prevent the acne, blemishes, wrinkles and pimples.  In developing countries, iron deficiency is very common, the natural iron sources veiled in itself. It is also contains vitamin C that is necessary for the skin growth. It also contains many bio-chemicals and flavonoids and essential oils gallic acid and oxalic acid malic acid etc., this will be discussed in detail one-by-one.

Black Plum and Digestive Ailments:

Probably , it is beneficial for the all type of the GIT (gastrointestinal tract) diseases like ulcer, appendix , bacteria and constipation problems. If we talk about the diarrhea than due to its antibacterial properties it helps in the prevention of the diarrhea. And also assist the body to attain the natural bowel movements that stops the constipation. Black Plum actuate the production of saliva that helps to soften the food in the mouth and create mastication in mouth that makes the digestion easy. Because of acidic nature, Black Plum is advised to consume with salt, this way it reduces the acidity in stomach. Having with curd is also quite beneficial.

Diabetes and black plum

The stone powder of Black Plum is usually suggested to diabetes patients, this reduces the diabetes mellitus type 2.  Jamun has two more properties beneficial for the diabetic patients first it has oleanolic  acid and it has anti diabetic properties. And secondly it has the function of producing and actuating the secretion of the insulin. And when blood is accumulated by the sugar and insulin it is harmful for the patient and  decrease the accumulation of the sugar and lipid in the blood. It is noteworthy here that many diabetic persons who consume black plum, they resulted in the reduction of the diabetic symptoms like excessive urination, water thirst and dry mouth.

Cardiovascular problems and cure with the black plum

Black plum has the terpenoids that act against the accumulation of cholesterol and cure it, resultant, it prevents from mostly cardiovascular problems caused by accumulation of cholesterol.

Helping with bleeding hemorrhoids:

Persons facing the serious bleeding piles can cure themselves with the black plum at home by consuming fruit or its juice.

Hemoglobin production:

Since black plum is the richest source of iron, it helps to reduce iron deficiency in the body. It supplies the healthy blood cells and proper supply of the blood to oxygen.

Liver protection

Liver helps to purify our blood and then pass this blood to the other organs it also helps in the digestion of the fat in our body. Access heat cease the activity of the liver of the body. Black plum has coolant effects that’s why it helps the liver for proper functioning.

Skin ailments

Black plum is rich in vitamin C. It has magical effects on the skin and reduces the aging effects. It brightens and lightens the skin. The basic principle is Black plum’s anti oxidant property that produce the protein collagen which reduce the aging process. Applying powder of its stone on the skin it reduces the dark spots and skin rashes.

Teeth care

The most common problems of the teeth are bad breath, plaque and bleeding gums. Due to acidic nature, the black plum kills the bacteria that accumulate on gums and inhibits the plaque. Black plum also have rich vitamin C content, that heals the wounds quickly and keep the gums secure and prevent from gum bleeding.

Black plum paste and cuts on skin

As a home remedy, the paste of black plum is good for healing cuts and bruises of skin, as it is high in vitamin C that quickly heals the wounds.

Cough and Black plum

Black plum actually has the great effect for the sour throat because of its healing ability and for this it is recommended to consume 10ml black plum juice daily, or advised to consume black plum with vinegar.

Cancer

Cancer is the uncontrolled division of the body cells and these cells penetrate on other parts of the body. Black plum is the source of the polyphony’s and these are the compounds that are capable to fight against cancer cells and stop their activity.

Bone strength

Black plum despite of the glucose also contains many trace elements. Its has a handsome amount of Ca, Zn. Calcium is the main thing to make our bones and teeth strong.

Processed food products of Balck plum

Black plum is quite beneficial for health, it is being used for many commercial products. Commercially Black plum is used to make juice, squash, jellies, jams, candies, vinegar, wine etc. Juices can be simply prepared by blending the fruit flesh (without stone) with water and sugar and little bit of black salt according to taste. Jelly can be prepared from fruit flesh by adding commercially used jellying agents. For squash making fresh  juice is used with other ingredients like water, sugar, citric acid and sodium benzoate to increase shelf life, better taste and quality so that it can be preserved for longer time.

Precautions and side effects

  • Study shows that black plum lowers the blood sugar so one should not consume  before and after two weeks of surgery.
  • Black plum should not be consumed after drinking milk should not be consumed. It contains vitamin C as a huge source and this can react with milk, which may cause stomach upset.
  • Heavy consumption of cane may cause cough and deposition of sputum in the lungs.
  • Black plum should be avoided on empty stomach due to its acidic nature.
  • Over may cause fever and body ache.
  • Pregnant and lactose women should avoid.
  • It is also not advised in patients suffering from kidney stone.

By Muhammad Azam

I am Lecturer in government college university Faisalabad, Pakistan. I have completed my Ph.D in Food Science and Technology.