Full List of Fruits Tanjong fruit
Introduction of Tanjong fruit Nutritional Value of Tanjong fruit Uses of Tanjong fruit Health Benefits of Tanjong fruit Growth and Development Propagation and Planting
Tanjong fruit
Scientific name - Mimusops elengi
Mimusops elengi commonly recognized as Tanjong is found in tropical forests in South Asia. This medium-sized evergreen tree is used for a long time in the history of the medicine. The timber is highly valuable and the tree bears out an edible fruit that becomes smooth, ovoid, bright red-orange when matures. In addition, they are softly hairy. The tree reaches to a height of about 16 m. The leaves of the tree are oval-shaped, dark green, lustrous and are 5 to 14 cm long, and 2.5 to 6 cm wide. Flowers of the tree are scented and hairy. Appearing dark brownish black or grayish black in color, the bark is thick and it is often found with linear marks and a few cracks on the surface. With about 1m in circumference, the tree may reach up to a height of 9 to 18 m.
Nutritional Value of Tanjong fruit
The health benefits of Tanjong are numerous. It is high in Vitamin C and is said to help improve the immune system and prevent some types of cancer. It is also known to aid in digestion, reduce inflammation, and promote healthy skin. The fruit is also a good source of dietary fiber, which can help to reduce the risk of certain types of heart disease.
| Moisture | 79.27 % |
| Protein | 1.29% |
| Fat | 2.76 K Cal |
| Reducing sugar | 8.9% |
| Non reducing sugar | 6.3% |
| Total sugar | 15.2% |
| Fiber | 1.13% |
| Vitamin C | 3.27 mg / 100 gm |
| Mineral content | 0.32% |
| Iron | 0.59 mg / 100 gm |
| Sodium | 5.16mg / 100 gm |
| Potassium | 98.54 mg / 100gm |
Apart from the known use of the edible fruit the tree bears, its timber is highly luxurious and is strong, hard and rich deep red in color. The heart wood is sharply defined from the sapwood and takes a beautiful polish. Weighing 1008 kg per cubic meter, they are used in making furniture’s and also fine carvings are made out of it. The light fragranced flowers are used to make ornamental garlands.
Tanjong is often eaten fresh, but it can also be cooked in a variety of dishes. It is used in salads, soups, jams, and even beverages. The juice of the fruit is used to make a popular drink called Tanjong juice. The fruit is also used to make a type of cake known as Tanjong cake.
Health Benefits of Tanjong fruit
Almost all parts of the tree are considered useful, especially the bark, flowers, fruits together with its seeds are astringent, cooling, anthelmintic, tonic, and febrifuge. Mainly used in dental ailments like bleeding gums, pyorrhea, dental caries, and loose teeth, they are said to give great relief. Burning urination is cured with the ripened fruits. Decoction of bark is used as a wound cleaning lotion. Dried flowers powder is used as a brain tonic. Flower extracts are used to treat heart diseases, leucorrhoea, and menorrhagia, and act as antiduretic in polyuria and antitoxin.
As with the growth and development of the tree, the seedlings and tree grow slowly, but it may reach a height of 34 m in 20 years with a bole diameter of 50 cm, i.e. a mean annual diameter increment of 2.5 cm. All through the year, the trees may blossom and fruit.
In general, they are propagated using two methods i.e. by seeds or cuttings. Seed can be stored for about 9 months and during the first month of storage it needs after ripening. For one kg, there are about 2000 dry seeds. It takes up duration of 17 to 82 days for the seed to take root, however the germination rate is 70 to 90%. Best sown directly in containers, seedlings can be planted out when 20 to 30 cm tall.
