Johey oak – nutrition, proven benefits, uses

johey  oak

The scientific name of the johey oak is Artocarpus odoratissimus Blanco.

Scientific names Common names
Artocarpus odoratissimus Blanco Marang (Tag., Sulu)
Artocarpus tarap Becc. Loloi (Tag.)
Artocarpus mutabilis Becc. Johey oak (Engl.)
Terap (Engl.)
Other vernacular names
BORNEO: Benturung, Jarap hutan.
INDONESIA: Pelah, Kiran, Kian, Kiang, Da’eng, kegheng, Monyet hutan.
MALAYSIA: Tarap, Terap.
THAILAND: Khanun sampalor.

Johey oak is a medium-sized tree growing to a height of 18 to 25 meters, sometimes with low buttresses. Twigs are 4 to 10 millimeters thick, with long, yellow to red, spreading hair and stipule-scar rings. Leaves are alternate, ovate, 7- to 9-lobed, the lobes lanceolate, glossy, dark green above, green below, stiff and petioled. Inflorescences occur in the leaf axils. Male flowers are minute, in stiff spikes. Female flowers are in conical heads. Fruit is subglobose, up to 20 centimeters in diameter, green yellow, densely covered with stiff, hairy processes about 1 centimeter long, borne at the end of long flexible branches, with a mass of seeds embedded in pulp. Fruit flesh is white, edible, juicy, and fragrant but strong-smelling edible pulp.

Distribution

– Usually cultivated for its edible fruit.

Nutritional Constituents

– Fruit is 24 to 33% of fresh fruit weight; 100 g of edible portion yields

water 65.7 to 84.2 g,

protein 0.8 to 1.47 g,

fat 0.2 to 0.3 g,

carbohydrates 32.4 g,

ash 0.5 to 0.8 g,

fiber 0.6 to 0.77g,

calcium 17 mg,

phosphorus 35 mg,

iron 2.1 mg and

vitamin C 30 mg. (see study)

– Crude protein from the seeds is higher than that found in other fruits.

– Study yielded a prenylated pyranoflavone derivative, artosimin.

– Dichloromethane extract of Artocarpus odoratissimus afforded ß-sitosterol and squalene, and unsaturated fatty acids from the flesh of the fruit and seeds; and ß-sitosterol, unsaturated fatty acids and hydrocarbons from the fruit rind. (see study)

– Analysis of minerals in flesh and seed yielded (in mg/100g):

Potassium 176-298 (F), 352-443 (S);

magnesium 15-31 (F), 103-132 (S);

sodium 1.1-1.7 (F), 0.9-3.8 (S);

calcium 0.5-1.4 (F), 1.5-3.0 (S);

iron 0.3-0.5 (F), 0.8-1.2 (S);

nickel 0.01-0.06 (F), 0.13-0.29 (S);

cobalt 0.11-0.26 (F), 0.10-0.15 (S);

manganese 0.02-0.93 (F), 0.27-8.64 (S);

copper 0.39-0.67 (F),0.58-0.83 (S);

zinc 0.17-0.45 (F), 0.71-1.83 (S);

cadmium 0.0104-0.0149 (F), 0.0125-0.0172 (S). (see study)

– Proximate composition of flesh nutrient per 100g yielded:

Moisture (%) 67.9-73.4;

ash 0.6-0.8 g;

carbohydrate 12.0-25.2 g;

protein 1.31-1.52 g;

fiber 0.90-1.13 g;

fat 0.2-0.3 g (wet basis),

energy 90.7-100.6 kcal. (see study)

Uses
Edibility

– Fruit is esteemed for its sweet, juicy, aromatic perianths surrounding the seeds. with a flavor similar to jackfruit. Used as ingredient for cakes.

– Seeds are roasted or boiled, yielding a delicious nutty flavor.

– Young fruit also cooked in coconut milk and eaten as curried vegetable.

Folkloric traditional uses

– Ibans in Sarawak drink root decoction for diarrhea. Ash from leaves applied on scorpion stings and centipede bites. Mixed with a little coconut oil, the ash is used for scabies and kuris. (see study)

Other uses

– Ritual: In the Iban community in Sarawak, leaves are hang on the door to drive away evil spirits from entering the premises. (see study)

Scientific studies on Johey oak

Artosimin / Anticancer / Antioxidant:

Study yielded a new prenylated pyranoflavone derivative, artosimin, together with traxateryl acetate. Artosimin was found to be significantly cytotoxic against cancer cell lines (HL60 and MCF7)and also showed to have strong antioxidant property on the DPPH assay.

Antioxidant:

Study evaluated the flesh, kernel and peel from M. pajang and seed and flesh from A. odoratissimus for total antioxidant activity, total polyphenol, total flavonoid and total anthocyanins contents. The phytochemical and antioxidant properties of M. pajang and A. odoratissimus, especially their kernel/seed by-products indicate they may impart health benefits when consumed and should be regarded as a valuable source of antioxidant-rich nutraceuticals.

Antioxidant / Flesh and Seed:

Study investigated the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic potential of two fruits endemic to Borneo Island: Mangifera pajang (bambangan) and Artocarpus odoratissimus (tarap). The kernel of M. pajang extract displayed strongest antioxidant activity as assessed DPPH and FRAP assays, followed by M. pajang peel, A. odoratissmus seed, M. pajang flesh and A. odoratissmus flesh.

Adaptogenic / Seed:

Study evaluated dried seed extract of Artocarpus odoratissimus for adaptogenic activity using anoxic tolerance test with male Albino mice. Extract prolonged the time of convulsion and minimized the increase of biochemical parameters (glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides). Results suggest the seed extract may be explored as an adaptogenic agent.

Availability

Wild-crafted.

Read about other interesting fruits

Acai berry        Ambarella         Avocado           Bael       Banana      Bilberry      Cocunut   

 Cantaloupe        Cashew apple      Dragon Fruit    Durian      Fig      Jack fruit   Jamun      

 Kiwi        Lychee      Malay apple     Mango        Mangosteen       Miracle fruit         Pomelo  

 Papaya     Passion fruit     Phalsa      Pineapple           Plum       Pomegranate       

Prickly pear      Quince       Rambutan           Roselle          Santol          Sapota       

Sea buckthorn       Sour Orange     Soursop           Sweet Lime         Star gooseberry 

Star Apple        Strawberry     Surinam Cherry          Sweet lime        Tamarind       Tomato 

Tree tomato      Wampi       Watermelon         Wood apple

Read about herbs and spices

Allspice          Alfalfa       Ashwagandha        Bay leaf              Black cohosh           

Black onion seeds       Black pepper       Cayenne pepper    Celery          Chives       

 Chamomile        Clove     Coffee senna    Coriander       Curry leaf         Cumin        

Eucalyptus       Fennel            Fenugreek       Garlic      Ginger         Gotu Kola       

Hibiscus         Holy basil    Jasmine     Kava Kava     Lavender     Licorice   

Long pepper    Lotus   Majoram      Marigold     Mugwort     Mustard seeds      

 Neem    Nutmeg       Oregano     Peppermint     Red  clover        Rose       Rosemary           

Sage         Sensitive plant   St.John’s wort        Tarragon        Thyme     Triphala powder        

Turmeric     Vetiver grass    Wheat grass      Wild amarnath