QUENEPA
MELICOCCUS BIJUGATUS. Family: SAPINDACEAE Other names include limoncillo, Bajan ackee, chenet, Spanish lime and mamoncillo.
The quenepa is a close relative of lychee and longan and is native or naturalized across the New World tropics including South and Central America, and parts of the Caribbean. It can be found both cultivated and naturally grown in the coastal area and dry forests. It got its name because it looks like small, unripe limes. It has 2 varieties: the sweet one and sour one. The sour one is usually eaten with chili powder, salt and lime; while the sweet one is eaten just the way it is without adding any spices. The taste is a mixture of lychee and lime.
Spanish lime fruits are borne in clusters and are sub-globose or ellipsoid green drupes, 2-3.5 cm long and 10-25 g in weight, green to yellowish when mature with a thin, leathery, brittle skin. The fruits have a short, sharp terminal protrusion. The pulp is a gelatinous aril that is juicy and tart or acid-sweet, translucent, somewhat astringent, orange to salmon pink, and contains one relatively large seed to which the aril is firmly attached. Seed is large, 1.5-2.5 cm long, yellowish-white or white, hard-shelled, starchy and astringent. Some trees produce a proportion of fruit with two hemispherical seeds.
Both the seeds and fruit pulp of Guinep have been used to cure stomach and digestive issues like diarrhea and constipation. For example, groups in Venezuela roast the seeds, grind them, and then mix them with honey or tea to cure diarrhea. In Nicaragua milk from the seed (also called horchata) is used to treat parasites. The pulp of the Guinep is closely attached to the seed and so is usually sucked on until only the pulp’s fibers remain. A 2009 study found that the phenolics and sugars in Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq. fruits could be partially responsible for their medicinal benefits. The phenolics and sugars produced both antibacterial and—in limited circumstances—antifungal properties. Another study from 2018 confirmed the large content of sugars in the peels of the Guinep. A comprehensive 2013 study on the fruit indicates that its most common use is as a gastro-intestinal cure. Phytochemicals that aid this process are found in the seed and pulp. In the seed these include Epicatechin and Procyanidina A-type for diarrhea; catechin dimer and catechin trimer for astringency; Naringenin for parasites. In the pulp important phytochemicals are Ferulic acid and Glucose/fructose for constipation; Phenolics for astringency; Phenolics and Hydroxycinnamic acids for diarrhea. The leaves can also be made into a tea that is commonly used to treat gastrointestinal problems, but this folk remedy lacks any medical backing.
In some regions leaf infusions are used for treating high blood pressure and also reducing fevers.
A few fun facts about quenepa:
The Spanish Lime is rich in fiber thus helps in the reduction of cholesterol and thus avoiding constipation. The Vitamin A contents of the fruit helps in strengthening the immune system and arrests the formation of the urinary stones; The Vitamin C in the fruit is a prominent one and has a good amount of antioxidant properties; the calcium content helps in keeping the teeth and also the bones healthier and also combats cancer; phosphorous contents help in digestion and balancing the hormone levels in the body. The fruit aids in the reduction of blood pressure and also solves the complications of asthma, since the fruit contains a lot of antioxidant properties known to be the Phenolic Compounds helping in avoiding the cardiovascular disease, strengthens the immune system thus combats the strokes. In some parts of South America, pulp of the Spanish lime has been used as a traditional medicine for treating conditions like gastrointestinal problems, respiratory problems, and diarrhea.
Tryptophan is an unexpected compound in quenepas, but it has a definite effect on the human body. Tryptophan is legendary for its ability to induce sleep, namely because it stimulates the production of serotonin. This “good feeling” neurotransmitter can dispel anxiety and worry, clearing the mind and leading to restful, undisturbed, rejuvenating sleep.
