The New Nation - Internet Edition

Jamayet Ali

Jackfruit is familiar to us as the largest fruit in the world. It is the national fruit of Bangladesh and bears a good source of carotene equivalent to vitamin 'A'. It is a large tropical fruit- tree, with a dense crown reaching a height of at least 30 feet or more. The straight, cylindrical stem is covered with rough bark which excludes milky latex. The plant is indigenous to Bangladesh and India. It is also grown in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malayasia, and Brazil and has been introduced into many other tropical countries. The tree is a good shade-bearer, but thrives best in the open. The fruits are borne in the trunk and on the main branches. The tree bears fruit in about eight years. For successful cultivation, it requires a moist tropical climate and a deep rich soi1. Owing to its long delicate taproot, seedlings cannot be easily transplanted. Seeds are therefore sown during ramy season.

Botanical name of jackfruit is Artocarpus integrifolia. The fruit contains a large number of seeds, each enclosed in a yellowish juicy sheath and sweet substance, which, if fermented and distilled, yields an alcoholic beverage, with a strong odour and peculiar flavour. The seed, when roasted, is eaten as an article of food, and is said to resemble chestnuts. When ground to flour it very much resembles the top quality of wheat flour. The fruit when unripe is cut into small pieces and cooked in curry with shrimps. It becomes very tasty to eat. The seeds of the ripe fruit, when roasted in hot ashes, are very palatable and nutritious. Two common varities of jackfruit are generally available in the market. One is very sweet, fleshy and crisp peri carp, and the other that is considered inferior, has a thin mucilaginous and sour pericarp.

High quality of jackfruit grows in the areas of Savar, Narshingdi, Joydevpur of Dhaka, Jessore, Khulna and Satkhira. The wood is yellow when freshly cut, but gradually turns light brown on exposure. It is fairly strong, durable, and not attacked by fungi or white ants. The wood is cheap and of excellent quality, suitable for general carpentry work and plain furniture, for brush backs, inlay work and turnery. It is also a favourite wood for musical instruments. The timber has a local demand, but the tree being mainly grown for the fruit, is not available in commercial quantities.

Edible per 100grms. green jackfruit contain: moisture, 84.0; mineral matter, 0.9; fibre, 2.8; calorie, 51 (kilo); protein, 2.6; fat,0.3; carbohydrate, 9.4grms. calcium,30; iron, 1.7; vitamin B-l,0.05; vitamin B-2, 0.04; vitamin C, 14 mg. Ripe jackfruit contains: moisture, 88.0; mineral matter, 1.1; fibre, 0.2; calorie, 48 (kilo); protein, 1.8; fat, 0.1; and carbohydrate, 9.9grms.; calcium, 26; iron, 0.5; carotene (vitamin A) 4,700 IV; vitamin B-l,0.11; vitamin B-2, 0.15; and vitamin C, 21mg./100g. The seeds which form about 5.1 % of the fruit are rich in starch. They contain moisture: moisture, 51.6 ; protein, 6.6 ; fat, 4.4; carbohydrate, 38.4; fibre, 1.5; mineral matter, 1.5; calcium, 0.05; phosphorus, 0.13%; Fe, 1.2 mg/100g. (Food Processes and Analyses, Mohammad Yunus, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Dhaka,47, 49; Wealth of India,Raw Materials, Vol.-l, 126)

Medicinal Properties: The unripe fruit is acrid; carminative, tonic; useful in "kapha". -The ripe fruit is cooling, oleaginous; tonic, fattening, aphrodisiac; useful in biliousness, "vata", leprosy, ulcers; causes "kapha". - The seeds are sweet; diuretic, aphrodisiac, constipating (Ayurveda). The young leaves are fomentation are applied to boils and wounds to dry them. - The fruit is sweet with a pleasant taste; tonic, aphrodisiac; enriches the blood. - The seeds are aphrodisiac (Yunani).

The juice of the plant is applied externally to glandular swellings and abscesses to promote suppuration. The tubers, if worn on the waist, are said to cure hydrocele. The young leaves are used in skin diseases, and the root is used internally in diarrhoe, The leaves are considered an antidote to snake-poison. They enter in a compound Munda medicine drink to stop vomiting The unripe fruit in astringent, the ripe laxative, but rather difficult to digest, although very nutritious.

The leaves are not an antidote to either snake-venom (Mhaskar and Caius) or scorpion-venom (Caius and Mhaskar). In Cambodia, the wood is considered a nervous sedative, and is administered in convulsions. The pith is taken internally as an abortifacient. (Indian Medicinal Plants, Kirtikar & B.D. Basu, 2337)

Medicine: The juice of the plant is applied externally to glandular swelling and abcesses to promote suppuration. The young leaves are used in skin diseases, and the root internally in diarrhoea. "This is an important article of food, both when green as well as when ripe. The seeds contain a quantity of starchy matter, which may be separated by drying and pounding them. The unripe fruit is astringent, the ripe laxative, but rather difficult to digest, although very nutritious. The juice of the plant is use to promote absorption of glandular swellings" (Surgeon D. Basu, Faridpur, Bengal) (Dictionary Of The Economic Products Of India, Vol.-i, 332)

Properties and Uses: The unripe fruit is acrid, astringent, carminative and tonic; ripe fruits are nutritious and laxative; seeds diuretic. latex is applied to glandular swellings and abscesses to promote suppuration. Leaf ash is useful in healing ulcers. Young leaves and roots are useful in skin diseases, asthma and diarrhoea (Medicinal Plants of Bangladesh, Second Edition, Abdul Ghani, 113).