Benefits of Starfruit for Body Health – As many of us know that the body needs a lot of good things to be able to fulfill it properly and correctly. Like eating fruit.
Sweet star fruit can be consumed directly or cut into pieces and then dipped into salad dressing. It can also be processed into pickles, blended into juice, or made into infused water. Everything is delicious!
Apparently, secretly sweet star fruit has a myriad of health benefits, as well as the leaves! Do not believe? Here are some of the benefits of sweet star fruit leaves and fruit for health.
1. Rich in antioxidants
Carambola has an important role in traditional medicine, especially in Southeast Asia. Research published in the journal Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology in 2016 investigated the antioxidant potential of aqueous and methanolic extracts of the fruit, leaves, and stems of sweet star fruit. As a result, the methanol extract of sweet star fruit stems and leaves showed the strongest antioxidant activity.
A study published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology in 2021 also reveals the same thing. It is said that sweet star fruit contains flavonoids, benzoquinone (derivative of phenolic compounds), and glycosides (alkaloid type compounds).
In addition, based on pharmacological studies, sweet starfruit crude extract shows several bioactivities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, antihypertensive, antihyperglycemic, antitumor, antiobesity, antihyperlipidemic, and many more.
2. Potential as an anti-inflammatory agent
Maybe not many people know that star fruit is used in traditional medicine for several skin disorders. To confirm its efficacy, a study published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine in 2011 evaluated the topical anti-inflammatory effect of a crude ethanolic extract of sweet star fruit leaves on skin inflammation.
To measure anti-inflammatory activity, the study used mice with ear inflammation. Then, the ethanol extract is applied to reduce edema (swelling of body tissues due to fluid buildup).
How is the result? It is proven that star fruit has potential as an anti-inflammatory agent and opens up new possibilities for use in skin disorders.
3. Effectively lowers blood pressure
Hypertension is dubbed the silent killer because it can cause heart disease and stroke. If not controlled, it can cause degenerative diseases, such as blood vessel disease, kidney failure, and congestive heart failure.
A study published in the Journal of Health Research Forikes Voice in 2018 found out whether sweet star fruit can be used as an effective complementary therapy in lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure in people with essential hypertension.
As a result, there was a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure after being given juice and sweet star fruit slices. Apparently, this is because flavonoids strengthen the capillary structure and reduce the fragility of blood vessels. So it can reduce the risk of heart and cardiovascular disease.