Dragon Fruit atau Buah Naga : The superfruit of 2013

Do you know doctors in Taiwan urge diabetic patients to eat this cactus fruit to regulate their blood sugar level?

Do you know the fruit is also known as Queen of fruit and voted as superfruit in 2013, in which put this fruit at the highest rank,defeating  other superfruit such as acai berries and pomegranates?

Below are some Infos copied from internet for my own future reference...:)

Dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus), a tropical fruit popular in Southeast Asia, belongs to the climbing cacti (Cactaceae) family. Vietnam is the main commercial producer of dragon fruits in this region. The fruit, apart from being refreshing and tasty, has loads of vitamin C and is said to aid digestion.

Origin and distributionThe fruit is native to Central America. It is known as Pitahaya in Mexico and as Pitaya roja in Central America and northern South America. Pitahaya is the Spanish name for fruiting vines of Central America. The fruit was introduced in Vietnam by the French over a hundred years ago. According to some, the French took the fruit from Nicaragua and Colombia while others said they brought it from Guyana (South America) in 1870 as an ornamental plant. For its large attractive flowers which bloom only at night, the flamboyant plant is also known as "moonflower" or "lady of the night".

When the Vietnamese discovered the plant's tasty fruit, they cultivated it for food, just as the Mexicans did. The Vietnamese now regard this fruit as indigenous, especially the white flesh variety, Hylocereus undatus, or called Blue Dragon or thanh long by the Vietnamese Only of late was the fruit grown in Vietnam on a large-scale as a commercial crop. As one of Vietnam's most profitable crops, it is exported to markets all over the Southeast Asia. The commercialisation of the crop is also catching up in Thailand, New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii.

The plant gets its genus name Hylocerus from the word cerus derived from the Latin word cera, meaning "wax" or "torch-like".

Description
The plant is a climbing cactus vine that grows well in dry areas. Because of its epiphytic nature, it grows best in soil with a high level of organic materials. The flowers are white and large, measuring 30 cm long or more. They are ornate and produce a sweet fragrance when in bloom. The flowers bloom for one night only. Pitahaya plants can have between four to six fruiting cycles in one year. It can be propagated by seed or by stem cuttings.

The dragon fruit has a dramatic appearance, bright pink or yellow skinned (from Columbia) with green coloured spine-like scales. The scales turn yellow as the fruit ripens while the skin peels easily. The fruit is oval shaped, elliptical or pear-shaped. Inside, the flesh has subtly flavoured sweet taste or sometimes slightly sourish. The flesh is either white or red with black seeds dotted all over. The seeds resemble sesame seeds and taste like cactus seeds. It imparts a crunchy texture. Dragon fruits are also called cactus fruits. They are closely related to the orchid cacti or epiphyllum. Epiphyllums are known for their large and impressive flowers. The pitahaya can be cross pollinated with the epiphyllums.

Usage and potential
Food
The fruit is popularly eaten raw and tastes better chilled. It is also served as a juice. The flesh is sweet and sometimes served with mango in a tropical sorbet. The fruit is also used to flavour drinks while syrup made of the whole fruit is used to colour pastries and candy.The pulp of the fruit is used in producing an alcoholic beverage. The fruit makes a wonderful cocktail on its own or mixed with other tropical fruits. It is sometimes used in cooking. Unopened flowerbuds can be cooked like vegetables.

Medicine
Dragon fruits reputedly improve eyesight and prevent hypertension. The seeds of the fruit supposed help in controlling blood glucose levels in people with non-insulin-dependent hyperglycaemic conditions (a kind of diabetes). It is also used to treat stomach and endocrine problems.

Other uses
The plant is popularly planted as a climber to cover chainlink fencing. Parts of the pitahaya plant can be used to produce food colour.

Variant names
Common name: Dragon Fruit or Dragon Pearl Fruit.
Scientific name: Hylocereus undatus, or its synonym, Cereus triangularis.
Malay name: Kaktus madu.
Chinese name: Long guo (Mandarin).
Vietnamese name: Thanh long.
Other common names: Pitahaya, Strawberry Pear, Cactus fruit, Night blooming Cereus, Belle of the Night, Cinderella plant.

	Hylocereus polyrhizus (Red-fleshed pitahaya)	Hylocereus undatus (White-fleshed pitahaya)
Myristic acid	0.2%	0.3%
Palmitic acid	17.9%	17.1%
Stearic acid	5.49%	4.37%
Palmitoleic acid	0.91%	0.61%
Oleic acid	21.6%	23.8%
Cis-vaccenic acid	3.14%	2.81%
Linoleic acid	49.6%	50.1%
Linolenic acid	1.21%	0.98%

 
Summary for Nutritional & Health Benefits of Red Dragon Fruit (100 g)*

Nutrients*	Nutritional Value*	Nutritional & Health Benefits*
Calories	50 Cal	Provide good source of energy
Carbohydrates	1.48 g	Provide good source of energy
Protein	0.16 g	Enhances the body’s metabolism
Fat	0.23 g	Provide good source of energy
Crude Fiber	10.1 g	Enhances digestion in our bodies & helps in weight lost
Calcium	5.7 mg	Reinforces bones and aid in formation of healthy teeth
Magnesium	28 mg	Helps in transmission of nerve impulses, body temperature regulation, detoxification, energy production and the formation of health bones and teeth
Potassium	57 mg	Helps to regulate blood pressure and heart function
Lycopene	14.35 mg	Helps keep the body healthy and protect against harmful damage caused by free radicals
Retinol (Vit A)	120 µg	Provides detoxification to your body, skin health and improve night vision
Thiamine (Vit B1)	48.9 µg	Assists in production of energy as well as metabolizing carbohydrates
Riboflavin (Vit B2)	40.8 µg	To recover and improve loss appetite
Niacin (Vit B3)	0.5 mg	Lowers bad cholesterol level, detoxification and enhances the appearance of the skin by moisturizing and smoothening the skin
Ascorbic Acid (Vit C)	500.0 mg	Ensures bruises and cuts heal faster and improves the general immune system of the bodies
Vitamin E	106 µg	Acts as a powerful antioxidant by neutralizing free radicals in the body that cause tissue and cellular damage. It also provides healthy circulatory system to our body and aids in proper blood clotting and improves wound healing.
Cobalamin (Vit B12)	16 µg	Helps to maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells and is needed to make DNA.
Phosphorus	23.0 mg	Aids in tissue formation
Iron	3.4 mg	Provides your body with energy
Zinc	14 mg	Helps fight infection, improves brain function, helps to control your appetite and improves your immune system
Copper	31 µg	Reduces tissue damage caused by free radicals and provides bone and tissue health. Keeps thyroid gland functioning normal
Pyridoxine	21 µg	Enhances immune system function, prevents cancer and helps to reduce water retention

Antioxidants

The red pigments in dragon fruit contain powerful flavanoid antioxidants which, it is believed, may help to prevent cancer and inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, diabetes and gout, although research has just begun to support the health claims.

Summary of Flavanoids Content of Red Dragon Fruit (100 g) and benefits.#

Type of Flavanoid#	Amount (μg)#	Benefits#
Kaempferol	3.09	This compound has been associated with reducing the risk of heart disease This compound may reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer by 23%
Myricetin	7.23	It is an antioxidant that is capable of eliminating cancer causing free radicals within the body. It may be able to lower high cholesterol levels It may reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men
Quercetin	6.81	It may help to relieve allergic symptoms and asthma symptoms The anti-inflammatory properties may help to reduce pain from arthritis. It may help to reduce fatigue, depression and anxiety.
Apigenin	2.01	It has potential to reduce the risk of cancer due to its anti-tumor activity. It also could potentially be used in allergy conditions due to its anti-inflammatory properties
Luteolin	1.06	It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties
Rutin	1.03	It has strong antioxidant properties. It strengthens capillaries and can help to stop venous edema which is an early sign of chronic venous disease of the leg It has anti-inflammatory effects. It may inhibit some cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions

Reduce Cholesterol
The high levels of soluble and insoluble fibre, which enhances digestion, speeds transit through the bowels and reduces dietary cholesterol are also beneficial. Reports from a clinical trial in which persons with elevated cholesterol saw a remarkable reduction in total cholesterol over a five week period during which Red Dragon Fruit was consumed daily{The seeds of dragonfruits are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids) that reduce triglycerides and lower the risk of cardiovascular disorder}

Comparison with other Studies in Tropical Fruit Intake on the Effects of Tropical Fruits on Human Lipid Profile

 

Tropical Fruits	Changes in Lipid Profile (%)
	Total Cholesterol	LDL Cholesterol	HDL Cholesterol	Triglyceride
Guava Papaya Watermelon Star Fruit Pineapple Red Dragon Fruit	8.19 ↓ 1.62 ↓ 7.85 ↓ 3.9 ↓ 8.38 ↓ 13.3 ↓	9.55 ↓ 2.31 ↓ 5.09 ↓ 0.60 ↓ 11.40 ↓ 5.94 ↓	No change 0.75 ↑ 1.10 ↓ 10.65 ↓ 14.80 ↑ 10.00 ↑	- 0.92 ↑ 16.93 ↓ 15.90 ↑ 9.74 ↓ 23.52 ↓

Multivitamin kurangkan risiko kanser