The essential black berry

The jamun is a purple coloured tropical berry with a unique taste,colour and flavour.

The jamun also known as jambas,jamun,jambolan,rajaman,kala jamun,neredu,naval,nerale,jamali,java plum,black plum and black berry is a purple coloured tropical berry with a unique taste,colour and flavour. It is acidic and astringent in nature and has a sweet taste. Due to its acidic nature,it is usually eaten with a sprinkling of salt. Children are fond of this fruit due to its property of colouring the tongue purple due to anthocyanin,a plant pigment.

This fruit is 70 per cent edible. Glucose and fructose are the major sugars found in the ripe fruit,it is also laden with minerals,and provides fewer calories,as compared to other fruits. A medium sized jamun provides about 3-4 calories. The seed of the fruit is also rich in protein carbohydrates and traces of calcium. It is a fair source of iron providing 1-2 mg per 100 gm and vitamin C,providing 18 mg/100 gm the daily adult requirement of this vitamin is 40 mg. It also provides folate and vitamin-B,carotene,phytochemicals antioxidants,magnesium,potassium and fibre.

Jamun is believed to be of special use in treatment of diabetes. In Unani and Ayurvedic systems,it is used for digestive disorders including diarrohea. Extracts of the bark,seeds and leaves have been found to cause a marked prolonged decrease in blood sugar and glycouria sugar in urine. Several studies show that jamun has hypoglycemic effects with upto 30 per cent reduction in blood sugar reported in some studies. Seeds are rich in alkaloids which have the hypoglycemic effects.

Jamun has also been reported to be protective in liver disease which could play an important role in prevention of liver damage necrosis and fibrosis. In addition,studies also show an anti-cancer potential of jamun fruit extract. These could be possibly due to several bioactive phytochemicals including polyphenols which have the purple pigment called anthocyanin. Studies show that berry fruit consumption may also provide benefits during chemotherapy and radiation. Research confirms that polyphenolic compounds have far reaching health benefits. They help in preventing of several chronic diseases like cancer,heart disease,diabetes,ageing and arthritis.

The fruit also has been known to have blood purifying properties. The leaves of the jamun tree possess anti-bacterial properties and is used for making medicines that strengthen teeth and gums.
The bark of the tree is useful for de-worming,urinary disorders and is used to formulate many herbal medicines by traditional healers. Extracts from bark of the jamun tree are believed to possess moderate antibiotic activity. Due to its high astringent properties,it is used for gargles and as a mouthwash particularly for bleeding gums Gingivitis. The bark and leaves are useful in controlling high blood pressure.
The juice of the jamun fruit is extremely soothing and has a cooling effect. It helps in proper functioning of the digestive system.

Jamun fruits is best eaten raw,with a sprinkling of salt,or preserved as squashes,preserves,jams and candies,which have a distinct flavor. Unripe fruits are used to make vinegar and ripe fruits are often made into excellent quality wines. The white-fleshed jamun has adequate pectin and makes a very stiff jelly. The more common purple-flesh ones yield rich jelly but is deficient in pectin. They require a commercial jelling agent or must be combined with pectin-rich fruit such as unripe or sour guavas. Do be careful in consuming the fruit from roadside stalls. It may be contaminated by lead and heavy metals from exhaust fumes.