Dragon fruits have a surprising number of phytonutrients.
Rich in antioxidants, they contain vitamin C (equivalent to 10 percent of the
daily value), polyunsaturated (good) fatty acids, and several B vitamins for
carbohydrate metabolism, as well as carotene and protein. Calcium is present
for strong bones and teeth, iron and phosphorus for healthy blood and tissue
formation. The benefits are realized in a number of ways, from a strengthened
immune system and faster healing of bruises and wounds to fewer respiratory
problems. Dragon fruits have zero complex carbohydrates, so foods can be more
easily broken down in the body, helped by vitamin B1 (thiamin) and other B
vitamins. The phytochemical captin, used as a medication to treat heart
problems, is present in the fruit itself, and an oil in the seed operates as a
mild laxative.
The seeds of dragon fruits are high in polyunsaturated fats
(omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids) that reduce triglycerides and lower the risk
of cardiovascular disorders. Eating dragon fruit can help the body maintain
such normal function as ridding the body of toxic heavy metals and improved
eyesight. Lycopene, responsible for the red color in dragon fruit, has been
shown to be linked with a lower prostate cancer risk.
The Dragon plant is a vine, epiphytic cacti of the genus
Hylocereus that is believed to be native in Central and Southern America and
has been brought to Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia, Indonesia,
Taiwan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Dragon plant has fleshy
stems that grow up to 20ft long when matured. Dragon plant may grow from the
ground or climb onto trees using aerial roots. Dragon plant bears flowers that
only bloom at night. The flowers are ornate and beautiful with fragrant scent.
Pitahaya plants can have up to 4-6 fruiting cycles per year. The dragon fruit
has spines that grows up to 1 kilogram in weight. Dragon fruit skin may be
yellowish to dark red in color with edible flesh that maybe white or red
depending on the variety. It has a lot of black small seeds that is also edible.
Pitaya or Dragon fruit is also known to have some health benefits that includes
preventing memory loss, anti cancer activity, control of blood glucose level in
diabeetes, anti-xidant properties, aids in healing of wounds and others.
Dragon fruit Medicinal
Uses. Folkloric health Benefits from Dragon fruit. Dragon fruit promotes healing of wounds and cuts. Dragon fruit improves appetite. Dragon fruit improves eye sight Dragon fruit can aid in weight
reduction. Dragon fruit improves
memory. Confirmed health Benefits
from Dragon fruit. Dragon fruit
boosts immune system. Dragon fruit is rich in vitamin C and fibers that help
provide an overall healthy body. Dragon
fruit helps in digestion. Because of the richness in fibers, Dragon fruit aids
in the digestion of food, Studies also suggest that Dragon fruit promotes the
growth of probiotics. Dragon fruit
help to lower blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes. Studies also suggest
that the the glucose found in Dragon fruit aids in controlling the blood sugar
level for diabetes patients. Dragon
fruit prevent formation of cancer causing free radicals. Dragon fruit is rich
in minerals and fibers that aids in digestion, cleans toxic ingredients thus
preventing the occurrence of colon cancer.
Dragon fruit as
anti-oxidant. The presence of high level of vitamin C, minerals and
pytoalbumin is regarded as relevant in fighting free radicals and possess
anti-oxidant properties. Dragon fruit
helps to control cholesterol level. Dragon fruit is also rich in flavonoids
that are known to have favorable effects against cardio related disease. Dragon
fruit confers prebiotic benefits. The researcher concluded that dragon
fruit may be used as an ingredient in functional food and nutraceutical
products for the overweight individuals and diabetic prevention management.
Meanwhile, the prebiotic effect of dragon fruit should be tested in clinical
studies with both the raw and extracted flesh for comparison.
Wound healing
properties of Hylocereus undatus on diabetic rats. Aqueous extracts of
leaves, rind, fruit pulp and flowers of Hylocereus undatus were studied for
their wound healing properties. Wound healing effects were studied on incision
(skin breaking strength), excision (percent wound contraction) and the nature
of wound granulation tissues, which were removed on day 7 and the collagen,
hexosamine, total proteins and DNA contents were determined, in addition to the
rates of wound contraction and the period of epithelialization. In
streptozotocin diabetic rats, where healing is delayed, topical applications of
H. undatus produced increases in hydroxyproline, tensile strength, total
proteins, DNA collagen content and better epithelization thereby facilitating
healing. H. undatus had no hypoglycemic activity.
Dragon fruit
Preparations, Usage and Side Effects. Dragon fruit Preparation and Usage. Dragon is fruit is best eaten fresh,
it can be diced, sliced, chilled, add to salads or even blended to make a
smoothie. Dragon fruits are
available in most grocery stores, supermarkets and fruit stores. They are sold
in per piece or in a per kilo basis. Dragon
fruits are also made into jams, puree, sherbets, salads, fruit pizza, juice and
beverages. Dragon fruit Warnings and
Side Effects. Dragon fruit is generally a nutritious fruit that is a good
source of vitamins and minerals. There
are no reported side effects in consuming dragen fruit. Dragon fruit is safe for consumption even by pregnant and breast
feeding mothers.
Scientific Studies of
Health Benefits from Dragon fruit. Dragon fruit Mechanism of action in disease
treatment and prevention. Pouyrhizus Waste Extract By Using Ultrasonic Solvents
Extraction. Pitaya plants also known as Dragon fruit are rich in
naturally-occurring flavonoids, which are primarily found in dragon fruit peel.
Flavonoids have a wide range of biological activities, such as cell
proliferation-inhibiting, apoptosis-inducing, enzyme-inhibiting, antibacterial,
and antioxidant effects (Cook and Samman, 1996; Havsteen, 2002; Middleton and
Kandaswami, 1993). Moreover, some findings indicate that flavonoids\ has various
clinical properties, such as antiatherosclerotic, antiinflammatory, antitumour,
antithrombogenic, antiosteoporotic, and antiviral effects (Cook and Samman,
1996; Havsteen, 2002). Numerous epidemiological studies confirm significant
relationship between the high dietary intake of flavonoids and the reduction of
cardiovascular risk (Cook and Samman, 1996). The formulation of preventive and
healthy nutrition requires information about phenolic and flavonoid composition
in the dragon fruit waste.
Detailed studies aimed at determining the relationship
between a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, lifetime physical activity,
and oxidative DNA damage with prostate cancer were measured. Many details were
telling, such as the fact that men between 45 to 54 years of age who did not
engage in physical activity had three times the risk of prostate cancer. The
conclusion was that a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially those
containing lycopene, such as dragon fruit, and exercise were found to be protective
against the disease. Since limited information on the capacities of tropical
fruits is available, one study explored with positive results the ability of
tropical fruits such as dragon fruit to inhibit human cytochrome P450, which is
highly expressed in the liver, but also known to be present other tissues such
as in the small intestine, lung, and kidney, and especially linked to
congenital glaucoma.
Proximate analysis of
dragon fruit (Hylecereus polyhizus). Dragon fruit is also rich in
phytoalbumins which are highly valued for their antioxidant properties. Dragon
fruit or Hylocereus polyrhizus is rich in fibers, vitamin C, minerals and
phytoalbumins which are highly valued for their antioxidant properties. The
dragon fruit helps the digestive process, prevent colon cancer and diabetes,
neutralize toxic substances such as heavy metal, reduce cholesterol levels and
high blood pressure and consumed regularly the dragon fruit can help against
asthma and cough. It is also rich with potassium, protein, fiber, sodium and
calcium which goods for health than other fruits.
The Nutrition and
Health Benefits of Tropical Fruits with Special Reference to Red Pitaya. This
study indicates hypocholesterolemic effect of tropical fruits including dragon
fruit or pitaya as shown in-vivo and human intervention trial, therefore it has
a potential of reducing the risk factor for CHD (dyslipidemia). Soluble fiber increase fecal bile
acids losses and chemodeoxycholic acid synthesis and appear to be the best
substantiated mechanism by which fiber lowers serum cholesterol. Other factors that may have
contributed to the cholesterol-lowering effects are the plant sterol and
phytochemical present in fruits that interfere with cholesterol metabolism These effects maybe attributed by the
active components present in the pitaya fruit such as antioxidant,
polyphenolics, thiols, and their antioxidative activity from the betacyanin
contents (Wybraniec & Mizrahi, 2002).
The present study results revealed that both treatments (Red pitaya fruit
and Lovastatin drug) showed a similar effect in increasing HDL-C and lowering
TC, TG and LDL-C level